‘If I ever encounter it, I will stop it’: man dies intervening in Taipei stabbings

A 57-year-old man who attempted to stop a deadly random attack at Taipei Main Station last week has died after being stabbed, as his longtime friend recalled remarks he made more than a decade ago about intervening in such incidents.

The attack occurred last Friday (Dec 19) at Taipei Main Station and the nearby Zhongshan commercial district. A 27-year-old man surnamed Chang allegedly threw petrol and smoke bombs before launching a knife attack on members of the public.

Yu Chia-chang, who was at the station at the time, reportedly stepped forward to stop Chang from igniting a petrol bomb, trying to prevent further casualties. He was stabbed during the confrontation and later died from his injuries.

According to Taiwanese media, a friend surnamed Lin, who had known Yu for more than 30 years since their military service days, said Yu had once spoken about intervening in similar attacks following the 2014 Taipei MRT stabbing incident.

“After that case, he said that if he ever encountered such a situation, he would definitely try to stop it,” Lin said, adding that he never expected those words to come true years later.

Chang later fell to his death from a nearby building after carrying out the attacks. The incident left four people dead and 11 injured.

In the aftermath, members of the public gathered at Taipei Main Station to lay flowers and leave messages in tribute to Yu, hailing him as a hero who gave his life to protect others.

Read more: At least two dead, seven injured in Taipei MRT smoke bomb and knife attacks