Taiwan knife attack horror leaves 2 dead as responders perform CPR on the street
Shocking footage shows a suspected knifeman go on a crazed rampage.
Taiwan: Attacker lets off smoke bomb in Taipei metro station
This is the horror moment when a knifeman throws smoke bombs in a busy subway station in Taiwan as terrified people run for their lives. The knifeman killed two people dead and injured several others. The terrifying attack happened outside the capital Taipei’s main train station at around 5.30pm local time (9.30am GMT) on Friday.
The attacker is thought to have blanketed the exit of the station with smoke bombs, releasing a thick, dense cover of smoke, causing some commuters to struggle to breathe. Witnesses reported hearing several muffled explosions near the station exit before orange smoke with a strong chemical odor poured into the transport hub.
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Panic soon ensued, with several travellers reportedly screaming as dozens scrambled out of the station with mouths and noses covered.
One of the victims of the smoke grenade attack, a man in his 50s, was rushed to the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest, but despite efforts from paramedics at the scene, he was pronounced dead, according to local reports.
The attacker is then thought to have travelled to Zhongshan Station, where they brandished a large, long knife and began attacking commuters near the station and at a department store nearby.
During the rampage, the attacker is reported to have stabbed seven people, injuring three seriously.
Images shared online appear to show first responders performing CPR on victims in the streets.
The suspect, reported to be a 27-year-old Taiwanese man, jumped to his death after the attack and was pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the victims, who was in the station at the time, is reported to have rushed towards the attacker in an attempt to wrestle the blade from him, receiving stab wounds in the process. Local reports claim he is in a hospital in a critical condition.
No information has yet been given on the attacker's motive. The suspect is reported to have set fire to a train earlier that day.
According to local outlet SETN, two people died, and nine more were injured in the tragic attack.
Police have raised a cordon around a large section outside of Zhongshan Station as they begin their investigation.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has announced that police presence has been increased following the incidents, while Transportation and Communications Minister Chen Shi-kai has announced that emergency response teams have been established and security measures have been strengthened on transport.
