A stabbing attack in central Taipei, Taiwan, left four people dead and several injured after a 27-year-old man went on a violent rampage through the city’s busy transit hubs during rush hour Friday afternoon. The suspect, who was among the dead, used smoke grenades and a long knife in the attack that unfolded at two major metro stations.
The assault began around 5:30 p.m. at Taipei Main Station, one of the city’s busiest transportation hubs. The attacker, wearing a gas mask and protective equipment, threw smoke grenades from a suitcase before targeting commuters with a long knife. The violence then moved to Zhongshan station, where the suspect continued the attack around 6:30 p.m.
The suspect died during a police chase after falling from a building. The man, from Taoyuan in northern Taiwan, had previously served as an air force volunteer near Songshan airport before being discharged in 2022. Authorities revealed he had a criminal record and was wanted for obstructing military service in 2024.
Among the victims was a 57-year-old man surnamed Yu, who was killed while attempting to stop the attacker at Taipei Main Station. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an confirmed that Yu died trying to intervene during the attack. “Unfortunately, he was attacked and passed away… we are all deeply saddened,” Chiang said.
Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai described the incident as a deliberate attack, though the motive remained unclear. The suspect had checked into a hotel two days earlier, where police later discovered 25 Molotov cocktails in his room. Before launching the metro attacks, the assailant had damaged cars and motorbikes on Linsen North Road.
Video footage from the scene showed the attacker calmly throwing smoke grenades at crowds gathered on sidewalks near Zhongshan station. Witnesses described him wearing a mask, with additional weapons strapped to his chest. The suspect ran through a shopping mall, randomly slashing at people as panicked shoppers fled.
The coordinated nature of the attack became evident as investigators pieced together the suspect’s movements. He stayed in a hotel near Taipei Main Station between the two attacks, allegedly replenishing his supply of smoke grenades before emerging at Zhongshan station with additional protective gear.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te announced heightened security measures across the country in response to the attacks. “There will be no leniency,” the president stated, promising authorities would ensure citizen safety. The announcement came as the nation grappled with one of its most significant violent incidents in recent years.
The attack exposed gaps in public vigilance and emergency response. Witnesses reported that many commuters walked unhurriedly through smoke-filled stations, with some onlookers simply watching as the suspect threw grenades rather than fleeing or alerting others. The apparent complacency raised questions about crisis awareness among Taiwan’s population, despite regular civil defense drills conducted across the island.
The Friday attack occurred during one of the busiest travel periods, with crowds filling stations as workers headed home for the evening. The use of smoke grenades created additional chaos, filling underground passages with thick smoke that obscured visibility and triggered confusion about whether an explosion had occurred. Multiple videos posted to social media captured the scene, showing evacuations from buildings as the smoke spread through the transit system.
Security analysts noted the deliberate planning evident in the attack. The suspect’s advance hotel booking, stockpiling of weapons including Molotov cocktails, and strategic timing during rush hour all pointed to careful preparation. The two-day preparation period allowed him to position materials near the target locations in central Taipei before executing the coordinated assault across multiple sites.
Authorities ramped up security measures at transportation hubs throughout Taiwan following the incident. Police presence increased at railway stations, highways, subway stations, and airports as officials maintained what Premier Cho described as “a high level of alert and vigilance.” The enhanced security response reflected concerns about potential copycat incidents and the need to reassure a shaken public.
The tragedy highlighted ongoing debates about public safety preparedness in Taiwan. While the island has implemented whole-of-society defense strategies and conducts annual air raid drills, critics questioned whether citizens take these preparations seriously enough. The incident demonstrated that despite living in one of Asia’s safest societies, Taiwanese residents may have grown complacent about personal security and emergency response.
The attack shocked a community long accustomed to exceptional daily security, forcing a reckoning with assumptions about safety that many had taken for granted. Local officials pledged to review security protocols and emergency response procedures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
