Taipei City [Taiwan], December 22: Taiwanese authorities said the suspect who killed three people and injured 11 others in knife and smoke-grenade attacks in the island's capital had planned the assaults and set fires at other locations earlier on Friday.
The suspect, identified as a 27-year-old man named Chang Wen, fell to his death from a department store building in Taipei after the attack. The assaults shocked Taiwan, where violent crime is rare, prompting authorities to step up security at crowded spots and big events, including its New Year's Eve celebration that usually attracts many locals and tourists to an outdoor countdown.
Chang Jung-Hsin, director-general of the National Police Agency, said the suspect began a series of attacks at 3:40pm local time, first setting fire to roads and causing damage to cars and motorbikes. He also set fire to where he lived. Authorities were still investigating his motive. Chang said the suspect had voluntarily served in the military but was fired for drunk driving.
Source: Qatar Tribune