Richard Saunders
TAIPEI — Investigators have revealed that the suspect behind the December 19, 2025, indiscriminate attacks in central Taipei had been meticulously planning the spree for over a year and a half. The series of knife and smoke-bomb assaults left three victims dead and at least 11 others injured.
The Attack Timeline
The violence began on Friday at approximately 3:40 p.m. local time.
- Initial Acts: The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Chang Wen, first set fire to his own residence and several nearby roads, damaging cars and motorbikes.
- Taipei Main Station: Wearing a gas mask and a bulletproof vest, Chang detonated five to six smoke grenades near station exits, creating a thick cloud of white smoke. He fatally stabbed one person—a 57-year-old man who reportedly tried to intervene—before fleeing through an underground path.
- Shopping District: Chang moved to the busy Zhongshan MRT station area and the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store. He continued his rampage, using a knife to kill a second victim outside the store and a third victim inside a retail building.
- Suspect’s Death: Pursued by police, Chang ascended to the rooftop or a high floor of a department store building and jumped to his death.
Investigation and Background
Taipei Police Chief Li Hsi-Ho described the suspect as “extremely cunning,” noting he changed clothes and transportation—switching between a scooter, a bicycle, and walking—to evade capture.
- Long-Term Planning: Police uncovered that Chang began stockpiling tactical gear, including gas masks, shields, and industrial alcohol, as early as April 2024. In January 2025, he purchased 24 smoke grenades online, claiming they were for survival games.
- Criminal History: Chang was a former voluntary soldier who was discharged for drunk driving. At the time of the attack, he was wanted for evading mandatory military service after failing to report for reserve training in late 2024.
- Social Isolation: Family members told investigators they had not been in contact with Chang for over two years, noting he had been interested in weapons since a young age.
Government Response
President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai have vowed a thorough investigation into any potential accomplices or additional motives, though preliminary findings suggest Chang acted alone. In response to the rare outburst of violent crime, security has been heightened at all major transportation hubs, including railway stations and airports, ahead of the island’s major New Year’s Eve celebrations.
