The suspect in Friday’s stabbing attacks planned the rampage for more than a year, Taipei police said yesterday, citing evidence that he bought smoke grenades in January and other equipment in April last year.
Twenty-seven-year-old suspect Chang Wen (張文) threw smoke grenades and stabbed people at Taipei Main Station and near Zhongshan MRT Station, killing three people and injuring at least 11.
Chang jumped to his death from the sixth floor of the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi building while being pursued by police.
Photo: CNA
An electronic tablet Chang had left in a hotel room he had rented showed that he had looked up news about Cheng Chieh (鄭捷), a 21-year-old man who killed four people and injured 23 in a stabbing attack on a Taipei MRT train in 2014.
Chang in April last year bought tactical gloves, gas masks, protective shields and industrial-grade alcohol on Shopee, and in January, he spent NT$48,000 to purchase a box of 24 smoke grenades made in China through the online trading platform Ruten, police said.
Chang reportedly told the trader who sold the grenades that he needed a large number to play survival games.
He last month purchased gasoline canisters, blowtorches, methanol and a knife sharpener, police said.
Police said they are still investigating where Chang got the knife he used in the attack.
Chang used all the grenades he bought in the attack, including 17 while passing through Taipei Main Station, two outside the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store, four that were found in a burned suitcase he brought and one that was a dud, police said.
Chang acted alone, police said after reviewing footage of his movements the days leading up the attack.
In the three days leading up to the attack, Chang repeatedly traveled around Zhongshan District (中山), particularly around the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi store, conducting what police believe was reconnaissance for the attack.
Chang reportedly started renting an apartment off Gongyuan Road for about NT$10,000 per month starting in January, making payments on time.
After Chang was discharged from the military for drunk driving, he worked as a security guard from June 2023 to June last year, but had no reported income since.
His mother occasionally sent him money, and police plan to further investigate his finances to understand the full circumstances of the attack.
Police added they have ruled out "terrorism" in the metro stabbing.
"Based on what we have established so far in the investigation, the suspect did not make or display any statements or views related to politics, religion, or any specific ideology, and we have preliminarily ruled out terrorism," a senior Taipei Police Department official told AFP under the condition of anonymity.
"Terrorist attacks have a specific definition and the suspect does not meet that definition," he added.
Additional reporting by AFP
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
RSS