Taichung, Taiwan – On May 21, a violent incident occurred on the Taichung Mass Rapid Transit (TMRT) train, leaving four individuals wounded in the aftermath. The attack, which transpired around 11:20 AM, was captured on camera, showing a man in a white shirt and brown jacket brandishing a knife. Bystanders courageously intervened, attempting to subdue the assailant despite sustaining injuries in the process.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene, with a group of passengers rushing to restrain the attacker, holding down his arms and hands that clutched a fruit knife. Ultimately, one individual managed to immobilize the perpetrator, with others assisting in holding him against a wall as fellow passengers quickly evacuated the train for safety. The suspect, a 20-year-old male with a history of mental health issues, had traveled from Kaohsiung to Taichung the day before the incident, as reported by Mayor Lu Shiow Yen.
Following the ordeal, Taichung City Police Department Commissioner Lee Wen Chang confirmed the arrest of the suspect, while all injured passengers were promptly transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The train involved in the attack was subsequently cordoned off at Taichung City Hall Station for further investigation.
This unfortunate event bore unsettling parallels to a similar stabbing attack that transpired a decade prior on May 21, 2014, in the Taipei metro, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to 22 others. The assailant from the previous incident was subsequently executed two years later.
Such acts of violence are uncommon in Taiwan, a country ranked as the 33rd most peaceful state or territory out of 163 in the 2023 Global Peace Index. Despite the rarity of such incidents, the recent stabbing serves as a poignant reminder of the ever-present need for vigilance and preparedness in maintaining public safety.