Local governments move to honor man killed trying to stop Taipei attacks

Taipei, Dec. 21 (CNA) Local governments on Sunday moved to honor a 57-year-old man who died trying to stop a knife-wielding attacker during a deadly rampage in the center of Taipei, as investigators continued working to determine a motive.

The attacks occurred Friday evening at MRT Taipei Main Station and near MRT Zhongshan Station, where a 27-year-old man, Chang Wen (張文), launched a series of assaults involving smoke grenades and a knife, leaving four people dead, including himself, and at least 11 others injured.

Among the victims was Yu Chia-chang (余家昶), a Taoyuan resident who tried to stop Chang's assault near Exit M7 of MRT Taipei Main Station. Yu was seriously wounded as a result and later died.

On Sunday, the Taipei and Taoyuan city governments said they will apply to have Yu enshrined at Taiwan's Martyrs' Shrine, a national honor reserved for individuals who sacrifice their lives for the public good.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city will award Yu a posthumous commendation and assist his family in applying for a central government citation.

Chiang said that compensation for victims will come from multiple channels, including insurance payouts, crime victim protection funds and municipal programs.

In the days since the attack, the area around Exit M7 and outside Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store near MRT Zhongshan Station has been filled with flowers and handwritten notes from the public.

Some cards expressed gratitude for Yu's courage, including one from a high school student who wrote that Yu's actions had brought "a gentle sense of protection" to a route students travel every day.

Friends remembered Yu as a warm, charismatic and knowledgeable family man who commuted daily between Taoyuan and Taipei and was always ready to help others.

In a social media post, one friend said Yu "gave his life to minimize the harm" and called for his bravery to be remembered.

Yu is survived by his wife and two daughters, according to Chen Pao-min (陳寶民), head of Taoyuan's Department of Social Welfare.

Another of those killed on Friday, a 37-year-old man, was an employee of Mega International Commercial Bank. In a statement on Sunday, the bank said all of its staff were deeply saddened by the untimely death of their colleague and are actively assisting the family with funeral arrangements and financial matters.

Meanwhile, prosecutors said Chang's body will be autopsied this week as part of an ongoing investigation into his background, digital activity and financial records.

Police have seized electronic devices and found what appears to be a premeditated attack plan. Chang is suspected of having selected MRT Taipei Main Station and the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi commercial district as targets months earlier, mapping out plans that included arson, throwing smoke grenades and stabbing people at random.

Authorities also found from search records on a tablet computer owned by Chang that he had looked up news related to Cheng Chieh (鄭捷), a 21-year-old man who carried out a stabbing spree on a Taipei Metro train in 2014 that left four dead and dozens injured.

Cheng was later sentenced to death and executed in 2016.