At least four people have died in a terrific mass stabbing incident at Taiwan Train Station.
The rare incident took place after an attacker used smoke grenades to cause chaos and went on a violent rampage through Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, leaving few dead and several people injured.
The suspected assailant is among the dead after he fell from a building during a police chase through a busy shopping district on Friday evening, December 19, 2025.
According to the city’s mayor, Chiang Wan-an, one of the victims was killed as security officials tried to stop the attack inside Taipei’s Main Station.
The suspected attacker has been described as a 27-year-old man from Taoyuan, a northern county in Taiwan.
He was reportedly an air force volunteer soldier who had served near Taipei’s Songshan airport in a radio communication team but was discharged in 2022.
Taiwan’s premier, Cho Jung-tai, told media that the suspected attacker had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants.
Local media reported,the suspect was wanted by the local prosecutor’s office for obstructing military service in 2024 due to his failure to report on duty.
Taiwanese politician Cho,described the incident as a “deliberate attack” although the motive remained unknown.
The attack started at Taipei Main Station on Friday afternoon. The attacker allegedly threw smoke grenades inside the station at the peak of rush hour before making his way to nearby Zhongshan.
One video filmed by a bystander showed the young man in the middle of the main road outside Zhongshan subway station, a popular late-night and shopping district.
The suspect was wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, sneakers, a mask, and some protective equipment and also appeared to have other weapons, including at least one other knife strapped to his chest.
The video clearly shows him pulling smoke grenades from a bag on the ground and casually throwing them towards crowds gathered on the sidewalk, keeping their distance.
He is then seen running across the road and into a shopping mall, randomly slashing at people with a long knife as he runs.
Another clip shows him inside what appears to be Taipei Main station, pulling smoke grenades from a wheeled suitcase and calmly throwing them.
As shown in clips other underground stations were also filled with smoke, and people being evacuated out of buildings.
One resident, who posted videos to social media, said that “the scene was terrifying and smelled awful.”
Violent crime is relatively rare in Taiwan, but in the past couple of years a number of stabbing attacks on the metro have raised fears.
Some trains now carry instructional videos on how people can disarm attackers with umbrellas and fire extinguishers.
Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, said in a statement there would be heightened security across the country and that there would be “no leniency” regarding this case.
