TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Zhongshan First Police Station Chief Lee Hsin-hung (李欣鴻) released more body camera footage Sunday (Dec. 21) defending officers' response to last Friday's knife attack that killed three civilians in Taipei. The footage shows officers pursuing suspect Chang Wen (張文) through the Eslite Nanxi Store (誠品南西店), a department store, running against escalator direction and through stairwells. Lee emphasized officers exerted maximum effort despite widespread public criticism of the police response.
Lee explained that off-duty officers rushed to the scene without time to collect proper gear after receiving an alert about an armed suspect. Officers immediately entered the Eslite Nanxi Store (誠品南西店) and navigated through the building to stop the knife-wielding suspect as quickly as possible. The body camera footage documents their rapid response despite lacking full context about the situation.
The attack resulted in three fatalities despite police efforts, leading to intense public scrutiny of the response time and tactics. Lee addressed criticism regarding a 40-second pause on the rooftop and officers' use of batons instead of firearms during the pursuit. He attributed these decisions to the immediate response from off-duty officers who lacked time to retrieve proper equipment before rushing to protect the public.
Lee highlighted the chaotic situation with uncertainty about the suspect's location and potential for ambush during the pursuit. He questioned whether waiting for additional support would have prevented casualties or drawn further public criticism of delayed response. Lee acknowledged the emotional toll on officers who felt disheartened despite tireless efforts, pleading for greater societal support and recognition of their dedication. ◼
