As the nation reels from the knife attack in Taipei last week, the way society moves on from the incident could have lasting consequences for public safety and social cohesion.
After the tragedy, parent-child specialist Wu
Chuan-yu (吳娟瑜) urged families to provide emotional support and help children and relatives establish a sense of self-worth and a place in the family. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) called for stronger social safety nets, saying the attack highlighted the anxiety present in Taiwanese society.
Their comments underscore the important truth that violence does not occur in isolation. While the perpetrator acted alone, the conditions that made the attack possible extend far beyond one person’s decisions.
Following the attack, authorities moved quickly to restore order. Police increased patrols at major MRT stations and stepped up monitoring of online threats.
Such measures, while necessary, only serve to contain immediate risk. They cannot explain why a 27-year-old man meticulously planned a violent attack for more than a year, stockpiling knives, smoke grenades and other materials. Nor can they address the broader vulnerabilities that might have left him isolated and disconnected from social and institutional support.
Several people were detained in the days following the attack for violent online posts and threats, reflecting officials’ concerns about copycat behavior — a well-documented phenomenon, particularly after highly publicized acts of violence. The perpetrator had searched for news about a stabbing spree in Taipei, indicating that earlier attacks might have shaped his thinking.
This underscores the extent to which media coverage influences the social context of violence. Sensational reporting, recirculation of violent images and an emphasis on perpetrators’ identities can unintentionally encourage copycat crimes.
Social media can amplify these risks, as demonstrated by the threats and violent posts following last week’s attack. These messages, although not always acted upon, demonstrate how fear can metastasize online and inspire unsafe or reckless behavior.
Most importantly, while framing such incidents as the work of a “lone wolf” might be comforting, it is misleading. Taiwan has seen multiple public attacks in the past few years — a fatal school stabbing in New Taipei City in 2023, a stabbing on the Taichung MRT last year and another incident at MRT Shipai Station earlier this year.
These events demonstrate that acts of public violence are not as rare or unpredictable as they might appear, and treating each one as an anomaly only provides a false sense of security.
In reality, such incidents are not unforeseeable. Warning signs often exist, even if they go unheeded.
In this case, the perpetrator had not been in contact with his parents for more than two years, had little social support and relied entirely on savings and sporadic financial assistance from his mother. Isolated from family, out of work and without community ties, he lacked the social and emotional connections that might have offered guidance or an outlet for frustration.
Many who commit such acts often endure prolonged isolation, limited support and barriers to seeking help during hard times. Although the person carries out the violent act, social and institutional gaps create the backdrop that makes it possible.
Schools, workplaces, community programs and local authorities all play a role in identifying those at risk. Consistent engagement and mental health support could help vulnerable people before they reach a crisis, offering guidance and connection to those who might otherwise feel invisible or abandoned.
Families, as Wu said, remain the front line. It is important to ensure that children and young adults feel valued and understood within the household, not measured only by academic or professional success.
Parents can teach healthy emotional expression and coping strategies, but these efforts must be reinforced by schools, peers and the broader community.
Prevention is not just about policing, tightened regulations or stricter penalties. It is about strengthening support systems, fostering community, improving access to counseling and teaching young people about the various avenues available for seeking help.
A society that engages with its vulnerable members reduces the likelihood and the impact of violence while building resilience for the wider public.
This harrowing attack should be regarded as a warning of the dangers that arise from fragmentation, loneliness and systemic neglect. Public safety is inseparable from social care, and attention must extend beyond the moment of crisis.
To prevent tragedies, Taiwan must confront these incidents through a multifaceted lens, treating the systemic vulnerabilities that lead people to become isolated and susceptible to violence with the same urgency as the immediate threat itself.
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