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Taiwan Police Say Attacker Lived on Mother’s Transfers as Taipei Rampage Probe Advances

Investigators say the unemployed 27-year-old relied on maternal transfers to fund more than a year of online preparations.

Overview

  • Bank records show about NT$820,000 was transferred to Chang Wen since 2023, with only NT$39 left before his death, according to Taipei police.
  • Police maintain the preliminary finding that he acted alone and have provisionally ruled out terrorism as they analyze CCTV, a burned laptop and finances.
  • Investigators say Chang began planning in April 2024, buying gear and 24 smoke bombs online, and later preparing petrol bombs recovered at multiple sites.
  • Authorities have tightened deployments at transport hubs and major events, formed a CIB task force on online threats and made arrests over alleged copycat posts.
  • Bystander Yu Chia-chang, 57, who confronted the attacker, is being nominated for posthumous honors, with compensation and support provided to victims’ families.