A horrifying random stabbing incident occurred in Taipei City on the evening of the 19th, resulting in 4 deaths and 9 injuries—one of the deceased was the suspect, Zhang Wen. Multiple eyewitnesses reconstructed what happened on Threads: Zhang Wen stormed into the Eslite Nanjing West store, slashing at anyone he found alone, reportedly even glancing back to pick targets. According to accounts, after one victim fell, he told a bystander trying to help, 'Remember to tell my parents I love them very much.'
According to United Daily News, a netizen who was inside Eslite Nanjing West at the time witnessed people fleeing. Zhang Wen, dressed in all black and wielding a long knife, slashed at lone individuals along his path. 'He was not far from us; I saw him slash someone with my own eyes and then keep walking. After taking a few steps, he even paused and looked back in our direction.'
Later, Zhang Wen headed downstairs and the slashed bystander collapsed. The netizen said a group of people rushed to help; she took off her jacket to stem the bleeding and repeatedly called 110 and 119. She kept talking to the victim as they waited for rescue, feeling the person's consciousness fade. 'He even told us, "Remember to tell my parents I love them very much."' She quickly tried to encourage him: 'You won't die, hang in there!' Only after the paramedics took over did she realize she was in shock and couldn't help but cry. 'I just wish I could have stopped that person at the time.'
Outside Zhongshan Station, a motorcyclist was slashed in the neck with the long knife by Zhang Wen and died of his injuries. A netizen who helped describes the rider bleeding profusely and holding on for a long time before collapsing. Another Japanese national fearlessly tried to save the rider, pressing on the wound and shouting in Japanese. Security staff helped call the police, and another good Samaritan looked for something to staunch the bleeding. She provided sanitary pads and tissues.
'The Closest I’ve Ever Been to Death in My Life'
A netizen present at the scene inside Eslite Nanjing West said his wife narrowly avoided a slash. 'The last thing I could do was to keep telling people to leave and not go towards Eslite.'
'It was the closest I’ve ever been to death; there wasn’t even time to scream.' Another netizen said she first heard a loud scream, then saw a crowd rush up the escalator. Not knowing what was happening, she followed, and then Zhang Wen came charging, right behind her, holding a long knife. 'I looked at him; he looked at me. My mind went blank.' Zhang Wen yelled while swinging his knife: 'Go up, all of you, go up!'
She recalled escaping into a store and yelling to staff, 'Someone’s coming up here with a knife, hide now!' The staff led people into the fitting room and bravely stayed outside, guiding more people in as outside, screams, footsteps, and police sirens could be heard. After managing the scene, the staff then directed people out through the emergency exit.