Fatalities from Taipei random attacks rise to three, six hospitalized

Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) The death toll from attacks allegedly carried out by a man using a smoke grenade and a knife in Taipei on Friday rose to three as of 10:40 p.m., with six others hospitalized and the suspect dead after apparently jumping from a building.

A man in his 30s suffered cardiac arrest and arrived at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital at 7:23 p.m., where he could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at 10:13 p.m., becoming the third fatality from the random attacks, according to the hospital.

The suspect, Chang Wen (張文), first threw a smoke grenade in MRT Taipei Main Station at around 5 p.m., before stabbing bystanders, resulting in the death of a man in his 50s and injuring another.

• Suspect in Taipei attacks that left 2 dead, 7 injured jumps to death

• President, premier order heightened security after Taipei attacks

The fatal wound was a penetrating injury about 5 centimeters in length caused by a sharp object that reached from the right lung to the left atrium, the National Taiwan University Hospital said.

The injured man in his 30s was also hospitalized at the National Taiwan University Hospital with neck injuries. The hospital said that a CT scan found tears to his carotid artery and trachea, adding that he has been taken into surgery for treatment.

Chang, 27, later headed north to the area outside Eslite Spectrum Nanxi near MRT Zhongshan Station and stabbed multiple people on the first and fourth floors of the department store, primarily in the neck, Taipei police said.

At around 8 p.m., Mackay Memorial Hospital said a man who suffered cardiac arrest upon arrival could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead.

Five other people injured from the second attack are being treated in different hospitals.

The suspect reportedly jumped from the sixth floor of Eslite Spectrum Nanxi and suffered cardiac arrest. He was rushed to Cathay General Hospital and pronounced dead at 7:42 p.m., the authorities said.