A suspect launched smoke grenades and carried out random attacks on people
Local media reported on Friday that a man wielding a knife and smoke bombs killed at least three people and injured nine others in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.
During the evening rush hour, the suspect started tossing smoke bombs at one of the exits of a metro station before stabbing people at random with a knife.
Reportedly, one victim passed away due to cardiac arrest, while two others died from their wounds.
Per the Taipei Times, the 27-year-old suspect leaped from a building while being chased by police and subsequently died in the hospital.
Videos shared widely on social media show the attacker wearing what looks like body armor and a mask, holding a long knife and tossing smoke bombs from a backpack.
A terrorist incident took place in Taipei, Taiwan.
— Real Taiwan news (@RealTaiwannews)
United Daily News (UDN), citing information from the local District Prosecutor’s Office, stated that the suspect had an active arrest warrant dating back to earlier this year—issued after he failed to update his residence registration and missed his mandatory draft notice.
🇹🇼⚡️- BREAKING: A man tossed smoke grenades and assaulted civilians with a knife in Taipei, Taiwan—first at MRT Taipei Main Station, then at MRT Zhonghshan Station.
Local authorities report three fatalities and five injuries.
The suspect is thought to have died by jumping from a height.
— Rerum Novarum // Intel, Breaking News, and Alerts (@officialrnintel)
The rampage is said to have started earlier that morning, when the suspect set fire to his home and nearby vehicles before heading to the metro station.