Cops rule out ‘terrorism’ in metro stabbing

Flowers and notes from the public are laid for the victims of the metro attack outside a mall in Taipei on December 20, 2025. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te pledged a full, public enquiry into a deadly metro stabbing attack as he visited victims in hospital on December 20. (Photo by Akio WANG / AFP)

Police ruled out “terrorism” in a metro stabbing in the capital Taipei, where an attacker killed three and wounded 11.

A 27-year-old man, identified by police by his family name Chang, set off smoke bombs at Taipei Main Station metro on Friday afternoon before launching into a three-hour stabbing spree.

The attacker then moved to a shopping district near Zhongshan station, authorities said yesterday.

“Based on what we have established so far in the investigation, the suspect Chang did not make or display any statements or views related to politics, religion, or any specific ideology, and we have preliminarily ruled out terrorism,” a senior Taipei City Police Department official told reporters, under the condition of anonymity.

“Terrorist attacks have a speci­fic definition and the suspect does not meet that definition,” he added.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said the suspect was found dead the same day, after jumping off a nearby building. — AFP