Taiwan metro attack suspect’s parents apologise after deadly stabbing
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Police directing pedestrian traffic in Taipei after attacks at two metro stations in Taipei on Dec 19.
PHOTO: AFP
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TAIPEI – The parents of a man accused of killing three people in a stabbing rampage
The 27-year-old, identified by his parents as Chang Wen, set off smoke bombs in Taipei’s main metro station during rush hour on the evening of Dec 19 before launching into a stabbing spree that also wounded 11 people.
He was found dead later on Dec 19, with Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an saying he had apparently jumped off a nearby building.
His parents, wearing hats and face masks and whose names were not given, knelt outside a funeral parlour where an autopsy had been performed on his body and apologised for their son’s actions.
“The heinous crimes committed by Chang Wen have caused serious harm to society and inflicted irreparable damage and suffering on the victims and their families,” his father told reporters.
“We would like to apologise to everyone. We are sorry,” he said, bowing and kneeling with his wife in footage broadcast live on Taiwan television.
“We will fully cooperate with the judicial investigation.”
The police are still investigating a motive for the attack, which spanned Taipei’s main station, an underground shopping district and another metro stop, but have “preliminarily” ruled out terrorism.
Officials said immediately after the rampage that the attack was “deliberate” but that the motive was unclear.
The police said they believe Chang had acted alone and planned to “randomly kill people”.
Chang had served in the military but was discharged over driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the police, who said he was wanted after he failed to report for reserve military training.
Chang, according to the police, was jobless and relied on his family for financial support.
However, his parents did not respond when asked if he had likely used money they had given him to buy weapons or whether they would compensate victims.
Chang rented an apartment in the district near the main Taipei station in January and scouted the area in advance, officials said.
Investigators also found searches for “random killings” on Chang’s iPad, including material related to a Taipei metro stabbing in 2014 when a man killed four people. AFP
