HIBAPRESS
Taiwan's Prime Minister, Cho Jung-tai, reported on Friday that three people were killed and five others were injured following an attack carried out by a person using smoke grenades and a knife in Taipei.
Cho explained, according to Reuters, that the attacker threw smoke grenades inside the main train station in the city before quickly heading towards a nearby metro station located in a crowded commercial area, where he assaulted a number of people while fleeing. The Taiwanese official confirmed that the suspect died during a security chase after falling from a building, indicating that initial investigations showed he had a criminal record and previous arrest warrants, and his house was searched as part of the investigation into the circumstances of the incident. The Prime Minister stressed that acts of violence of this type are very rare in Taiwan, noting that the authorities will work to study the attacker's background and potential motives, and whether there are other related factors or links, only revealing his family name "Chang". He added that the attacker had, in addition to smoke grenades, other tools, including incendiary bombs that appeared burned at the scene, and he was also wearing something like a protective shield and a mask, which indicates a prior intention to carry out the attack. Cho Jung-tai pointed out that investigations are still ongoing, confirming that he gave instructions to the police to tighten security measures in train and metro stations throughout the country to ensure the safety of citizens. Video clips circulated showed moments of the attacker throwing grenades inside the station and in the street, along with other scenes of him threatening passersby with a knife.
