TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A knife attack on a Taipei Metro train Friday (Nov. 8) night left a 17-year-old male student injured.
A 41-year-old woman, surnamed Wang (王), attacked the student with a utility knife on the Bannan Line. Eyewitnesses reported the incident caused panic among passengers, with many running, falling, and screaming, per CNA.
Four men intervened to subdue the attacker until police arrived. Wang has been taken into custody by police for questioning.
The injured student has been transported to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital for medical treatment. The utility knife used in the attack has been seized as evidence.
A video captured by a bystander surnamed Chen (陳) shows a man in a black mask and three others intervening to stop the attack. The assailant, Wang, was eventually overpowered.
Chen said the train arrived at Jiangzicui Station around 10:10 p.m. when she heard a commotion and saw two people struggling.
A passenger in the second-to-last car said there was chaos as the last car became overcrowded. Everyone scrambled to escape, with the panicked cries of passengers drowning out the train's announcement.
Normal train service was resumed within approximately three minutes of the assailant's apprehension. Taipei Metro thanked the passengers who helped subdue the attacker.
The transit company will impose penalties according to the Mass Rapid Transit Act. It has sent a representative to visit the injured passenger and offer condolences.
