Knife attacker kills three after smoke bombing Taipei metro

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f81a/live/836639c0-dced-11f0-bc51-61713ec32de7.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f81a/live/836639c0-dced-11f0-bc51-61713ec32de7.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f81a/live/836639c0-dced-11f0-bc51-61713ec32de7.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f81a/live/836639c0-dced-11f0-bc51-61713ec32de7.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f81a/live/836639c0-dced-11f0-bc51-61713ec32de7.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f81a/live/836639c0-dced-11f0-bc51-61713ec32de7.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f81a/live/836639c0-dced-11f0-bc51-61713ec32de7.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f81a/live/836639c0-dced-11f0-bc51-61713ec32de7.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="EPA/Shutterstock Red tape at a train station with several police officers " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> EPA/Shutterstock Not less than three folks have been killed and 9 others injured as a knife-wielding attacker went on a rampage within the Taiwanese capital Taipei.

The 27-year-old suspect set off smoke bombs at Taipei's most important metro station, earlier than operating to a different station in a busy procuring district, stabbing folks alongside the best way, Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai mentioned.

The suspect, named by officers as Taiwanese man Chang Wen, later died after falling from a multi-storey constructing, Cho added. His motive stays unclear.

Assaults of this sort are uncommon in Taiwan, which has low charges of violent crime. The final time an analogous incident struck Taipei was greater than a decade in the past in 2014.

Friday's assault befell at about 17:20 native time (09:20 GMT) throughout the metropolis's night rush hour.

Movies shared on social media present folks fleeing the scene in panic as a person sporting a baseball cap and black clothes lobs smoke bombs throughout a busy street.

He can then be seen carrying a big knife as he walks previous a number of automobiles.

Cho mentioned the suspect had detonated smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails at Taipei's Most important Station, which is related to a busy underground procuring avenue.

A person reportedly tried to cease the attacker however was struck with a blunt object and later died in hospital.

The suspect then fled by means of an underground procuring centre to the close by Zhongshan Station, a couple of 800m stroll away.

After a detour to his lodge, the place he picked up a weapon, he ran again to the road exterior Zhongshan Station and set off additional smoke bombs. He additionally stabbed extra folks.

The attacker went into a close-by bookshop and division retailer, however fell from the constructing after police surrounded him. He died shortly after in hospital.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/61c5/live/082f0d20-dd0d-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/61c5/live/082f0d20-dd0d-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/61c5/live/082f0d20-dd0d-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/61c5/live/082f0d20-dd0d-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/61c5/live/082f0d20-dd0d-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/61c5/live/082f0d20-dd0d-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/61c5/live/082f0d20-dd0d-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/61c5/live/082f0d20-dd0d-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A map showing the relative locations of Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan Station in Taipei, Taiwan" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Cho mentioned he had ordered elevated safety at metro and railway stations, in addition to airports, in response to the assault.

"We are going to examine [the suspect's] background and related relationships to know his motives and decide if there are different related components," the Taiwanese premier was quoted by information company Reuters as saying.

Taiwan's President William Lai additionally promised a swift investigation.

The suspect had a legal file and was wished by the authorities, in accordance with native media experiences.

The final main incident of this sort, in 2014, noticed a person kill 4 folks on an underground practice in Taipei, stunning folks in Taiwan. The perpetrator of that assault was executed two years later.