The attacker used a knife to stab people and threw smoke bombs and bottle bombs at a Taipei subway station in Taiwan, killing three people last week. He had planned the attack for more than a year.
Taipei police revealed on Sunday (21 Dec 2025 GMT+7) that the suspect behind the violent attacks at Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan Station on Friday evening (19 Dec) may have been planning the attack since April 2024.
The attack involving smoke bombs and knives resulted in three deaths and 11 injuries. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Chang Wen, died later after jumping from a building. Police initially ruled out terrorism and believe Chang acted alone.
Lu Chunhong, head of Taipei Police's Criminal Investigation Division, stated investigators believe Chang began purchasing equipment for the attack in April last year, including tactical gloves, gas masks, protective shields, and industrial alcohol, bought through Shopee.
Taiwanese media reported that in January this year, Chang purchased 24 Chinese-made smoke bombs for 48,000 New Taiwan dollars (about 52,000 baht) from "Ruten," another e-commerce platform, claiming he bought them for playing airsoft games.
Later in November, Chang bought additional items such as fuel tanks, gas canisters, torch lighters, and methyl alcohol, which Taipei police say were used to assemble "bottle bombs."
Lu confirmed that on the day of the incident, Friday, Chang used all the smoke bombs he purchased: 17 were used inside Taipei Main Station, while four were burned inside a bag he carried at the station.
Additionally, two smoke bombs were thrown on West Nanjing Road in front of the Eslite department store near Zhongshan Station. Another remaining bomb was thrown at the mall entrance but did not explode.
Meanwhile, local news outlet Mirror Media cited police sources saying several items were left at the scene, including bottle bombs, smoke canisters, gas masks, and knives. Police also found 15 bottle bombs on the rooftop of the Eslite department store, where Chang jumped to his death.
Mirror Media added that 23 more bottle bombs were found in the hotel where Chang stayed, along with five fuel tanks in an apartment he rented in Zhongzheng District.
Police stated that Chang's long timeline of purchases and his use of the alias "Chang Fengyan" for acquiring equipment indicate that this attack was premeditated.
Other aspects of the case, including the source of the long knife and Chang's finances, as well as the contents of a burned notebook and CCTV footage, are still under analysis. Police plan to contact relevant financial institutions to examine Chang's money trails.
Investigations found that Chang previously served in Taiwan's Air Force but was discharged due to a drunk driving offense. He is currently unemployed with a criminal record and outstanding warrants. Preliminary findings indicate he acted alone without accomplices.
.cna