Taipei attacker acted alone, motive under probe: Police

TAIPEI – The man suspected of carrying out an attack in Taiwan with a smoke grenade and knife acted alone, police said on Dec 20 of the incident that

killed four, including the attacker

.

Chang Wen, 27, from the northern city of Taoyuan, died falling from a building during a police chase on the evening of Dec 19 in a packed shopping district in central Taipei, police said.

“Based on relevant verification work carried out continuously since yesterday, we have not found that the suspect had any other accomplices,” National Police Agency Director-General Chang Jung-hsin told reporters.

Investigations are ongoing as to the motive, he said.

Premier Cho Jung-tai said late on Dec 19 that the man had been the subject of an arrest warrant, wanted for suspected evasion of Taiwan’s compulsory military service.

Eleven people were injured in the attack, of whom two are in intensive care, the health ministry said.

Chang let off smoke bombs at Taipei’s main train station, then made his way to a mall at a nearby subway station, attacking people both inside the shopping centre and on his way there, police said.

Violent crime in Taiwan is very rare, and in response to the attack, police presence has been stepped up across the island, including in the bustling capital Taipei.

“For areas in Taipei city where crowds are expected to gather in various commercial districts, we are upgrading security measures citywide,” Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters. “This includes not only increasing the police presence, but also ensuring that all officers are fully equipped with the necessary gear.”

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who visited some of the injured in hospital on the morning of Dec 20, wrote on his Facebook page that the government would learn the lessons from this incident.

“We will also ensure that rapid-response units can be mobilised immediately when emergencies occur, so as to safeguard public safety,” he said. REUTERS