A 27-year-old man threw a smoke grenade near Taipei's main subway station before stabbing several people in a nearby department store, killing three. The suspect was declared dead after jumping from the building's sixth floor. Police are investigating the motive.
On December 20, 2025, a violent attack in Taipei, Taiwan, left three dead and shocked residents. According to Taiwan's Central News Agency and city government, the suspect, a 27-year-old man named Cheng Wen, threw a smoke grenade near an underground exit of the Taipei Main subway station, causing panicked pedestrians to flee. He then proceeded to a popular shopping district, where he stabbed several people on the first and fourth floors of the Eslite department store, targeting mostly the neck, the news agency reported, citing police sources.
Police said Cheng was declared dead at a hospital after jumping from the building's sixth floor. The attack indiscriminately targeted Taipei residents in the metro system, with the motive under investigation.
Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai has been mentioned in connection with the incident, though no specific statements were detailed. Local media described chaos at the subway and store, with witnesses recounting the smoke grenade's explosion and fleeing crowds. Authorities quickly secured the scene and bolstered security in public areas.
The incident highlights challenges to public safety in Taiwan, where such indiscriminate attacks are rare but raise concerns about urban security.
