"A Crime as Grave as the Sky"... Parents of Taipei Stabbing Suspect Kneel and Apologize After Attack That Left 14 Dead or Injured

Suspect Kills Three, Then Takes Own Life
Parents of the Suspect Apologize in Front of Cameras

The suspect's parents in the Taiwan stabbing rampage are kneeling and apologizing in front of the Forensic Examination and Autopsy Center in Taipei on the 23rd. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The parents of the suspect in the stabbing rampage in Taipei, Taiwan, which resulted in 14 casualties, knelt down and apologized to the victims and their families.

According to AFP and other sources on the 23rd, the parents of the stabbing suspect, Zhang Yuan, 27, knelt in front of the Forensic Examination and Autopsy Center in Taipei that day. They said, "The crime our son committed is a grave wrongdoing, as high as the sky," and added, "Our son has caused serious harm to society and left irreparable wounds on the families of the victims. We apologize to everyone." They also stated, "We will fully cooperate with the judicial authorities' investigation."

Wearing hats and masks, they knelt and bowed deeply in apology. This scene was broadcast live by local television cameras. However, they did not respond to questions about whether the suspect may have purchased the weapon with money they provided or whether they intended to compensate the victims.

Previously, on the 19th, Zhang Yuan set off a smoke bomb and indiscriminately wielded a knife in the underground passage of Taipei Main Station and a nearby shopping district. The attack resulted in three deaths and eleven injuries.

It was revealed that Zhang Yuan was wanted for violating the Military Service Act. After graduating from university, he voluntarily enlisted in the Air Force, but was dishonorably discharged in 2022 for drunk driving and was wanted by the local prosecutor's office for failing to fulfill his mandatory military service.

At the time of the crime, Zhang Yuan was unemployed and not living with his parents, but reportedly supported himself with money sent by his mother, who is an accountant. In January, Zhang Yuan rented an apartment near Taipei Station and conducted a preliminary survey of the crime scene. A search history for "indiscriminate murder" was found on his iPad. Police stated that Zhang Yuan committed the crime alone and intentionally, but the exact motive remains unclear.