Three killed in Taipei stabbing, smoke bomb attack

"At least three people have been killed and five injured after a knife-wielding attacker went on a rampage in central Taipei, before dying during a police chase, local authorities say. Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai said in a statement on Friday that the suspect had let off smoke bombs at Taipei's main train station, and then ran to a nearby subway station in a busy shopping district, attacking people on the way."

"The attacks were a deliberate act, although the motive was not immediately clear, Cho said. He deliberately threw smoke bombs and wielded a long knife to carry out indiscriminate attacks on the public, the premier added. The suspect then died during a police chase after falling from a building, according to local officials. Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters that the attacker had apparently jumped off the building to evade arrest and has been confirmed dead."

"This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on December 19 shows police patrolling at a metro station in Taipei, after attacks at two stations in the city [AFP] Images released by Taiwan's Central News Agency showed a canister on the ground at the Main Station, with officers examining potential evidence at the scene. Identifying the deceased suspect only by his last name, Chang, Premier Cho told reporters that he had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants"

At least three people were killed and five injured in central Taipei after a knife-wielding attacker set off smoke bombs at the main train station and ran toward a nearby subway in a busy shopping district, attacking people along the way. Officials described the attacks as deliberate and indiscriminate, carried out with smoke bombs and a long knife; the motive remains unclear. The suspect fell from a building and died during a police chase; the mayor said he apparently jumped to evade arrest. The suspect, identified only as Chang, had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants; his home has been searched and security was heightened across major transport hubs.

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