Taiwanese authorities said Saturday that the suspect behind knife and smoke-grenade attacks in Taipei, which killed three people and injured 11 others on Friday, had planned the assaults and set fires at multiple locations earlier in the day.
The 27-year-old suspect, identified as Chang Wen, fell to his death from a department store building following the attacks. Taiwanese police said he began his assault at 3:40 p.m., setting fires to roads, vehicles, and his residence, and later targeting crowds with smoke grenades and a knife near Taipei Main metro station and outside the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store.
Authorities said the suspect acted alone and purchased the smoke grenades online. Chang had previously served in the military but was discharged for drunk driving and had been wanted since July for failing to report to service. Investigators are still probing his motive.
Six of the injured remain hospitalized, two in stable condition in intensive care. President Lai Ching-te has called for a full investigation into the suspect’s background, motives, and possible assistance.