2014 Taipei Metro attack

2014 Taipei Metro Attack

Jiangzicui Station platform
Location New Taipei City, Taiwan
Coordinates 25°05′28″N 121°33′35″E / 25.091075°N 121.559834°E / 25.091075; 121.559834Coordinates: 25°05′28″N 121°33′35″E / 25.091075°N 121.559834°E / 25.091075; 121.559834
Date 21 May 2014
4:25 p.m. (UTC+8)
Target Nonspecific passengers of Taipei Metro
Attack type
 Stabbing
Deaths 4
Non-fatal injuries
 24
Perpetrators Cheng Chieh (鄭捷)
Motive Unclear/boredom

The 2014 Taipei Metro attack was a mass stabbing spree that took place on 21 May 2014, directed at random civilians on a Taipei Metro (aka Taipei MRT) train near Jiangzicui Station, resulting in 4 deaths and 24 injuries. It was the first fatal attack on the city's subway system since operations began in 1996.[1] The suspected attacker, Cheng Chieh (鄭捷), then 21, was arrested after the attack. He was sentenced to 144 years in prison and four death sentences, and was executed on 10 May 2016.

Attack

The attack started on 21 May 2014 at around 4:25 p.m. local time, inside a Bannan Line train heading west between Longshan Temple Station in Taipei and Jiangzicui Station in New Taipei. The distance between the two stations is the longest between any two stations in the Taipei metro system, lasting around five minutes.[2] During the attack, the assailant chased and hacked passengers with a 30 cm long fruit knife.[3] Before the train could stop at Jiangzicui Station, a group of passengers banded together to distance themselves using umbrellas while others tried to discourage the attacker by loudly taunting him.[4]

Victims

According to statistics compiled by the New Taipei Fire Department, the youngest victim was a 26-year-old graduate student at National Cheng Kung University, identified as Chang Cheng-han (male). The other three killed are 28-year-old Hsieh Ching-yun (male), 47-year-old Pan Pi-chu and 62-year-old Lee Tsui-yun (both female). They were all taken to different hospitals in Taipei and New Taipei, the department said. In addition, 24 others were wounded during the knife attack, 10 critically.[3][5]

Perpetrator

Cheng Chieh was born on 3 April 1993, and attended schools in Taipei.[6] He grew up with few friends, and was extremely focused on his studies.[7] Cheng was also interested in violent online games and had written horror stories.[8][9]

In elementary school, Cheng threatened to kill classmates over small disagreements. In junior high, he had carried a knife for a month looking for a chance to stab his teacher. In senior high, Cheng began blogging about his plans to kill and posted articles about murders. He enrolled in Chung Cheng Institute of Technology in 2011 with the intention of receiving military training, but was expelled two years later. He then transferred to Tunghai University.[10][11] School officials there had noticed Cheng's startling social media activity and offered him counseling before the incident, but no irregularities were discovered.[12] At the time of the attack, Cheng lived in the Banqiao District of New Taipei with his parents and older brother.[13]

Aftermath

When the subway train arrived at Jiangzicui Station, a single suspected assailant was subdued by passengers, police and metro staff and taken to the nearby Haishan police station after a brief standoff. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin said police presence on the metro was increased soon after the incident and added that he was requesting reinforcements from the National Police Agency.[2]

On 22 May, the suspect was taken to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office for questioning. A prosecutor applied to detain him in the New Taipei District Court, which was approved by a judge around 6:20 am. He was detained in the Taipei Detention Center located in Tucheng District, with an inmate number of 1892.[14][15]

Questioning after attack

New Taipei Police Chief Chen Kou-en identified the suspected attacker as Cheng Chieh, a 21-year-old second-year student at Tunghai University in the central city of Taichung. Chief Chen said the suspect told police he had wanted to do something "shocking and big" and had plotted to carry out the attack from childhood. Chen said no other motive was presently known.[1][16]

During questioning, the suspect said he originally intended to attack after his college graduation, but decided to move earlier since he had "no classes" on 21 May and he had grown tired of living.[17][18] The suspect stated that he does not admit guilt, feels no regret, wants the death sentence, and that even if his parents were on the train he attacked, he would have killed them, as well as the prosecutors questioning him.[19]

Reactions

Condolence message displayed on a Taipei Metro television after the incident
Tribute at Jiangzicui Station Exit 3

On the evening of 21 May, people began leaving flowers and cards at an exit of Jiangzicui Station to pay tribute to those who died in the attack.[20]

On 22 May, President Ma Ying-jeou condemned the attack and ordered the National Police Agency to investigate what led a university student to stab four people to death on a crowded subway train.[21] The Legislative Yuan on 23 May released a joint statement signed by all political parties calling for the National Police Agency to thoroughly re-examine and increase police deployment on metro systems, railways and airports. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin announced that police officers from precincts in Taipei and New Taipei City are to be permanently deployed at each of the Taipei MRT commuter rail system's 109 stations.[22]

General manager Tan Gwa-guang of the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation stated that the company would pay the medical expenses of the victims and set aside NT$4 million to compensate their families.[23] Taipei City Government also raised funds to use as compensation.[24]

Tunghai University released an open letter, saying that Cheng is part of the family, and promised to set up an expert committee to investigate the matter.[25]

Kuomintang legislator Chiang Huei-chen (江惠貞) said the passengers had put themselves in danger by focusing on their smartphones, while another KMT legislator, Lin Te-fu (林德福), said the passengers should have quickly pressed the emergency alert button in the train, and that the passengers lacked common sense. These remarks had sparked a public outcry against the legislators.[26]

The incident has sparked a debate online about whether the death penalty is appropriate punishment for such attacks. A Facebook group named "Indefinitely supporting death penalty for Cheng Chieh" had over 32,000 "likes" as of 22 May.[27]

Lin Hsin-yi (林欣怡), executive director of the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty, said that the most important thing at present is for the public to think about how to help the victims of the metro slashing spree and ease the survivors and their relatives out of the suffering brought about by the tragedy.[28]

On 27 May, Cheng Chieh's parents publicly apologized at Jiangzicui Station and called for a quick death sentence for their son.[29][30]

Trial

Cheng was indicted by the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office on 21 July, and charged with four counts of murder and 22 counts of attempted murder.[31][32] The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, the company that runs the Taipei Metro, claimed that ridership was down by 945,000 within ten days of Cheng's actions,[33][34] causing them to lose NT$20.61 million, an amount for which they are suing Cheng.[11]

Cheng was found guilty of four counts of murder and 22 counts of attempted manslaughter on 6 March 2015. The New Taipei City District Court sentenced him to four death sentences and a jail term of between five years, two months and eight years, but the court added that the ruling could be appealed.[35][36] On 7 August, the New Taipei District Court ordered Cheng to pay approximately NT$30 million to ten victims of the attack.[37][38] His death sentence was appealed to the Taiwan High Court, which upheld the ruling.[39] The High Court also rescinded Cheng's civil rights.[40] In a separate ruling on 7 January 2016, the High Court determined that Cheng owed another NT$61.39 million to victims and their families.[41] In February 2016, Cheng was granted permission to attend the Supreme Court proceedings for his final appeal of the death sentence.[42] Cheng became the first defendant subject to a death penalty to appear in front of the Supreme Court when his appeal was heard in April 2016.[43] The court's final decision, to uphold all previous rulings, was issued on 22 April.[44] Cheng's criminal penalties included a total of 144 years imprisonment and four death sentences.[45]

Execution

Justice Minister Luo Ying-shay signed the execution order for Cheng at 5 p.m. on 10 May 2016. Cheng was executed at 8:47 p.m. on the same day.[46] After eating his last meal, a biandang with stewed pork, rice and vegetables, Cheng was given general anesthesia. Soon after its administration, he was laid in a prone position and shot in the heart three times.[47] The 18-day gap between Cheng's final guilty verdict and execution was the smallest in Taiwanese judicial history.[48]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2014 Taipei Metro Banqiao Line Attack.

References

  1. 1 2 "Four killed, 21 wounded in Taipei subway knife attack". The Straits Times. Agence France-Presse. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 Huang, Sunrise; Wang, Hung-kuo; Holzer, Wesley (21 May 2014). "3 critically injured in stabbing on Taipei metro (update)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 Huang, Yi-han; Hsu, Elizabeth (21 May 2014). "4 dead in metro killing spree, with youngest aged 26". Central News Agency. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "有人丟桶、有人出拳…／英雄挺身 合擒鄭捷". Liberty Times (in Chinese). Yahoo! News Taiwan. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "表格／捷運隨機殺人死傷名單　鄭捷專砍頭頸胸腹 原文網址: 表格／捷運隨機殺人死傷名單　鄭捷專砍頭頸胸腹" (in Chinese). ET Today. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "濫殺4人 兇殘如豺狼 鄭捷判4死刑". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 7 March 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "鄭捷家住板橋地王豪宅　父母得知兒子殺人後都發抖". ETToday (in Chinese). 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "我知道我會被判死刑 「今天沒課決定動手」". Apple Daily. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Transit firm sues Taipei tube slasher for damages". South China Morning Post. Agence France Presse. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  10. ↑ Wu, Lilian (21 July 2014). "Death penalty sought for Taipei Metro 'mass murder' suspect". Central News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Death demanded in stabbing case". Taipei Times. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  12. ↑ Wang, Cindy; Lin, Adela (22 May 2013). "Taiwan Student Detained After Four Killed in Subway Attack". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "兇嫌鄭捷鄰居 難以置信". China Times (in Chinese). 21 May 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  14. ↑ 袁, 志豪 (23 May 2014). "鄭捷收押北所 編號1892". United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  15. ↑ Li, Lauly (23 May 2014). "MRT assailant detained in solitary confinement". The China Post. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "3 people killed in Taiwan subway stabbing spree". Washington Post. Associated Press. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "捷運喋血 鄭嫌：沒課提前犯案". Central News Agency (in Chinese). Yahoo! News Taiwan. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "江子翠捷運殺人事件為何是今天？板中畢業兇手鄭捷：沒課啊" (in Chinese). SET News. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "就算爸媽在車上 鄭捷：照殺不誤". Liberty Times (in Chinese). Yahoo! News Taiwan. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Taiwan mourns four victims of stabbing spree on Taipei subway". South China Morning Post. Agence France-Presse. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Taiwan president orders investigation of subway stabbing". Associated Press. Fox News. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Police to deploy full-time at MRT stations in Taipei". Taipei Times. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  23. ↑ Hsu, Stacy (22 May 2014). "MRT attacker kills 4 people, injures 22". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  24. ↑ Li, Chi-hao James (6 June 2014). "TRTC to sue MRT stabber for NT$20.61 million". The China Post. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  25. ↑ 陳, 和琳 (23 May 2014). "捷運殺人！　東海大學公開信：鄭捷是家人" (in Chinese). TVBS. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "【捷運殺人】藍委批低頭族　楊一展譙別坐公務車". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 22 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  27. ↑ Brown, Sophie; Kam, Vivian; Luu, Chieu; Botelho, Greg (22 May 2014). "Man stabs passengers aboard Taiwan train". CNN. CNN.com. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  28. ↑ Wen, Kuei-hsiang; Kao, Evelyn (22 May 2014). "KMT lawmaker proposes mandatory penalty for metro killings". Taiwan News. Central News Agency. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  29. ↑ Huang, Kuo-fang; Chen, Jay; Kao, Evelyn (27 May 2014). "Victims' relatives reject apology by subway knifeman's parents". Central News Agency. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  30. ↑ Shan, Shelley (27 May 2014). "MRT suspect's parents apologize". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  31. ↑ Wang, Hung-kuo; Chen, Jay (21 July 2014). "Man indicted for Taiwan's first subway murders". Central News Agency. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  32. ↑ Wang, Hung-kuo; Chang, S.C. (20 July 2014). "Metro killing suspect to be indicted Monday". Central News Agency. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  33. ↑ "Taiwan metro firm seeks compensation from subway killer". Straits Times. Agence France Presse. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  34. ↑ Shan, Shelley (6 July 2014). "TRTC sues suspect for millions". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  35. ↑ Wang, Ting-chuan; Chung, Jake (7 March 2015). "MRT killer sentenced to death". Taipei Times. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  36. ↑ Huang, Sunrise; Wang, Hung-kuo; Wang, Chao-yu; Hou, Elaine (6 March 2015). "Metro attacker sentenced to death (update)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  37. ↑ Huang, H.S.; Lillian, Lin (7 August 2015). "MRT killer sentenced to pay victims and families over NT$30 million". Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  38. ↑ Pan, Jason (8 August 2015). "MRT attacker must pay NT$29.8m". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  39. ↑ Liu, Shi-yi; Chen, Jay (30 October 2015). "High court upholds death sentence against Taipei Metro attacker". Central News Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  40. ↑ Pan, Jason (31 October 2015). "Death sentence for MRT attacker upheld". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  41. ↑ Pan, Jason (8 January 2016). "MRT killer ordered to pay NT$61.39m compensation". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  42. ↑ Pan, Jason (6 February 2016). "MRT killer to appear in Supreme Court hearing". Taipei Times. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  43. ↑ Pan, Jason (8 April 2016). "MRT killer says he deserves to be put to death". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  44. ↑ Tsai, Paige; Chen, Jay; Hsu, Elizabeth (22 April 2016). "Court upholds death sentence for knifeman in Taipei metro attack (update)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  45. ↑ Pan, Jason (23 April 2016). "Top court upholds death penalty for Taipei MRT killer". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  46. ↑ Pan, Jason; Chung, Jake (11 May 2016). "MRT murderer executed with appeal unheard". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  47. ↑ Pan, Jason (12 May 2016). "Justice minister explains Cheng's rapid execution". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  48. ↑ "MRT killing spree murderer executed". China Post. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
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