hree people were killed and five injured when a knife-wielding attacker went on a rampage in central Taipei on Friday (December 19), before then dying during a police chase after falling from a building, the premier said.

The man had let off smoke bombs at Taipei's main train station, and then ran to a nearby subway station in a busy shopping district, attacking people on the way, Premier Cho Jung-tai said.

Video from a local news outlet showed the man throwing gas canisters on a busy street before walking towards a shopping mall with a large knife. A voice could be heard shouting for pedestrians to call the police as the man started attacking people.

The deceased suspected attacker had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants and his house has been searched, Cho told reporters. Violent crime is very rare in Taiwan.

Besides smoke grenades, he likely possessed items such as petrol bombs that appeared to have burned at the scene and he was also wearing what appeared to be body armour and a mask, Cho said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (DECEMBER 19, 2025) (ETTODAY - No use Taiwan / Must not obscure logo) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. MAN THROWING GAS CANISTER IN STREET AND KNEELING TO PICK UP BAG / MAN WALKING WITH KNIFE TOWARD TRAIN STATION ENTRANCE / MAN SLASHING PEOPLE WITH KNIFE AND RUNNING INTO BUILDING / PEOPLE RUNNING OUT FROM BUILDING / AUDIO OF PERSON SHOUTING (Mandarin): "CALL THE POLICE! CALL THE POLICE! HURRY, CALL THE POLICE!"

2. RESPONDERS TREATING TWO INJURED PEOPLE LYING ON SIDEWALK

3. RESPONDERS CARRYING INJURED PERSON AWAY ON STRETCHER

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