Taiwan Bolsters National Security After Taipei Stabbing Kills 3, Sparks Copycat Fears

Taiwanese authorities are ramping up security measures across the island's transport hubs and major public events ahead of the holidays. The move comes in response to a deadly mass stabbing in central Taipei last week that killed three people, injured 11, and has stoked significant public anxiety over potential copycat attacks.

Government's Response to Public Anxiety

In separate statements on Tuesday, Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior and National Police Agency (NPA) announced a series of immediate actions. According to the statements, these include tighter police deployments, increased monitoring of online threats for copycat messaging, and an accelerated review of police resources and command procedures. The government's swift reaction aims to restore public confidence and pre-empt further violence during a high-traffic holiday period.

Details of the Attack

The violence that triggered the security alert unfolded on Friday afternoon in Taipei. Police identified the attacker as Chang Wen, a 27-year-old man. The rampage reportedly began at approximately 3:40pm with acts of arson before escalating. About an hour later, Chang allegedly used smoke devices to create confusion near Taipei Main Station, a major transport hub, and carried out knife attacks in the station and a nearby department store in the Zhongshan commercial district. The attacker later died after falling from a building, and prosecutors are currently investigating the motive for the indiscriminate violence.