Taiwanese authorities said today that the suspect who killed three people and injured 11 others in knife and smoke grenade attacks had set fires elsewhere earlier in the day, the Associated Press reported, BTA reported.
The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Chang Wen, died after falling from a Taipei department store building after the attack.
The attacks have shocked Taiwan, where violent crime is rare, and prompted authorities to tighten security at crowded places and major events, including New Year's celebrations that usually draw crowds of locals and tourists outdoors to count down the seconds until the new year.
Chang Jung-hsin, director general of the National The police agency said the suspect began a series of attacks at 3:40 p.m. local time, first setting fires on roads and damaging cars and motorcycles. He also set fire to the place where he lived. The suspect later threw smoke grenades near two exits of Taipei's main subway station and used a knife to fatally wound one person, Chang said. After the attack, the suspect returned to the hotel where he was staying via an underground passageway. He then threw more smoke grenades and used his knife to kill another person outside the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store, the official said.
He also fatally wounded another person on the fourth floor of the department store building before jumping from the fifth floor, Chang said.
Authorities said the suspect, who killed himself, was wanted for violating military service procedures, Kyodo news agency reported.