The parents of the suspect in Taiwan’s metro stabbing knelt and apologised for his actions, promising full cooperation with the investigation into the attack that killed three.
TAIPEI: The parents of a man accused of killing three people in a stabbing rampage in a Taiwan metro last week knelt and apologised on Tuesday.
They promised full cooperation with investigators into the attack, which also wounded 11 people.
The 27-year-old suspect, identified by his parents as Chang Wen, set off smoke bombs in Taipei’s main metro station during rush hour on Friday evening.
He then launched into a stabbing spree before being found dead later that day.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said he had apparently jumped off a nearby building.
His parents, wearing hats and face masks, knelt outside a funeral parlour where an autopsy had been performed.
“The heinous crimes committed by Chang Wen have caused serious harm to society and inflicted irreparable damage and suffering on the victims and their families,” his father told reporters.
“We would like to apologise to everyone. We are sorry,” he said, bowing and kneeling with his wife in footage broadcast live on Taiwan television.
Police are still investigating a motive for the attack, which spanned Taipei’s main station, an underground shopping district and another metro stop.
They have “preliminarily” ruled out terrorism.
Officials said immediately after the rampage that the attack was “deliberate” but that the motive was unclear.
Police believe Chang had acted alone and planned to “randomly kill people”.
Chang had served in the military but was discharged over driving under the influence of alcohol.
He was wanted after he failed to report for reserve military training.
According to police, Chang was jobless and relied on his family for financial support.
His parents did not respond when asked if he had likely used money they had given him to buy weapons.
They also did not say whether they would compensate victims.
Chang rented an apartment in the district near the main Taipei station in January and scouted the area in advance.
Investigators found searches for “random killings” on Chang’s iPad, including material related to a Taipei metro stabbing in 2014 when a man killed four people.
