TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Mourners placed flowers and messages Saturday (Dec. 20) at attack sites where a knife-wielding assailant killed three people and injured 11 others the previous evening. Police deployed shield-carrying patrols at affected locations while Eslite Nanxi Store (誠品南西店), a popular bookstore and lifestyle retailer, closed for the day to allow traumatized staff recovery time.
Bouquets of white lilies, roses and snapdragons tied with white ribbons accumulated outside Eslite Nanxi Store (誠品南西店) and at Taipei Metro's M8 exit. Chang Wen (張文), 27, launched the attacks Friday (Dec. 19) evening at multiple locations including Taipei Main Station (台北車站) and Zhongshan Station (中山站). The identities of the three deceased victims and the conditions of the injured were not immediately available.
Handwritten notes accompanied the flowers, bearing messages that read, "May the deceased rest in peace, the injured recover, hope for stability," and "Go well." Some mourners expressed anger toward the attacker, with one note stating: "Hope the perpetrator burns eternally in the 18th level of hell." Passersby also stopped to pray with hands clasped together at the memorial sites.
Chang used smoke bombs and intended to use Molotov cocktails to set fires at multiple locations, including Taipei Main Station (台北車站), Zhongshan Station (中山站) and Nanjing West Road (南京西路). He attacked people with a long knife before police surrounded him. He died after falling from a building, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
Police increased patrols Saturday, carrying protective shields at affected locations, including Taipei Main Station (台北車站) and surrounding areas. Crowds were noticeably smaller at the transit hub, likely due to both the weekend and lingering fear from the attacks. Officers maintained high visibility throughout the morning to reassure commuters and the public.
Investigators have not determined whether Chang's attacks were random or premeditated, with the investigation ongoing. Details about his background, motive and how he obtained the long knife, smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails were not disclosed. Police continue examining evidence collected from multiple attack sites.
Eslite Nanxi Store, a popular bookstore and lifestyle retailer, issued a statement early Saturday thanking staff who helped evacuate customers during the attack. The store specifically praised employees who assisted parents with children and people with mobility issues. The store remained closed Saturday to allow employees to rest before reopening. ◼
