Taiwanese authorities have revealed that a deadly series of attacks in the capital, Taipei, which left three people dead and eleven others injured, was a premeditated assault. The shocking incident, involving knives and smoke grenades, has prompted a major security review ahead of the island's New Year's Eve celebrations.
A Planned Series of Violent Acts
According to National Police Agency director-general Chang Jung-Hsin, the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Chang Wen, began his rampage at 3:40 p.m. local time on Friday, 20 December 2025. His initial acts involved setting fires on roads, damaging cars and motorbikes, and also setting his own residence alight.
The violence then escalated in central Taipei. Chang Wen moved to the Taipei Main metro station, where he threw smoke grenades near two exits. In the ensuing chaos, he used a knife to fatally wound one person.
Fatal Attacks at Department Store
After the metro station attack, the suspect retreated via an underground path to his hotel before launching a further assault. He targeted the area outside the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store, throwing more smoke grenades and using his knife to kill another individual.
The attack culminated inside the department store itself, where Chang Wen fatally wounded a third person on the fourth floor. He then fled to a male bathroom on the fifth floor and jumped to his death.
Aftermath and Security Response
The coordinated attacks have sent shockwaves across Taiwan, where such extreme violent crime is rare. In immediate response, authorities have announced they will step up security at crowded public locations and major events.
This heightened alert specifically includes the island's famed New Year’s Eve celebration, an outdoor countdown event that traditionally attracts large crowds of locals and international tourists. The police action aims to prevent any copycat incidents and restore public confidence.
The investigation continues as authorities piece together the full motive behind Chang Wen's planned assault, which has tragically underscored vulnerabilities even in generally safe societies.
