At least four people killed in mass stabbing in Taipei

"At least four people have died in a rare mass stabbing incident in central Taipei after an attacker used smoke grenades to cause chaos as he went on a violent rampage through Taiwan's capital. Several people were also injured. The suspected assailant is among the dead after he fell from a building during a police chase through a busy shopping district on Friday evening."

"The suspected attacker has been described as a 27-year-old man from Taoyuan, a northern county in Taiwan. He was reportedly an air force volunteer soldier who had served near Taipei's Songshan airport in a radio communication team but was discharged in 2022. Taiwan's premier, Cho Jung-tai, told reporters that the suspected attacker had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants. Local media reported he was wanted by the local prosecutor's office for obstructing military service in 2024 due to his failure to report on duty."

"One video filmed by a bystander showed the young man in the middle of the main road outside Zhongshan subway station, a popular late-night and shopping district. He was wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, sneakers, a mask and some protective equipment. He appeared to have other weapons including at least one other knife strapped to his chest. The video shows him pulling smoke grenades from a bag on the ground and casually throwing them towards crowds gathered on the sidewalk, keeping their distance"

A 27-year-old air force volunteer carried out a mass stabbing and smoke-grenade attack in central Taipei, killing at least four people and injuring several others. The assault began at Taipei Main station during rush hour when smoke grenades were thrown, and continued into the Zhongshan shopping district. One victim was killed while trying to stop the attacker inside Main station. The suspect, from Taoyuan and discharged from the air force in 2022, had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants for failing to report for military duty. The suspect died after falling from a building during a police chase. Authorities ordered heightened security nationwide.

Read at www.theguardian.com