View source for 2014 Taipei Metro attack

{{Short description|Fatal stabbing spree in Taiwan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2014 Taipei Metro attack
| image = Platform in Jiangzicui Station.JPG
| caption = Jiangzicui Station platform
| location = [[Taipei Metro]] [[Bannan Line]] (between [[Longshan_Temple_metro_station|Longshan Temple]] and [[Jiangzicui metro station|Jiangzicui]]), [[New Taipei City]], Taiwan
| coordinates = {{coord|25|02|06|N|121|28|37|E|type:railwaystation||display=it}}
| date = {{start date and age|2014|05|21|df=yes}}
| time = 16:25
| timezone = [[National Standard Time]]; [[UTC+08:00]]
| type = Stabbing
| weapons = Fruit knife
| fatalities = 4
| injuries = 24
| perpetrator = Cheng Chieh
| target = Nonspecific passengers of [[Taipei Metro]]
| motive = Mental illness<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cprc.moj.gov.tw/media/8458/6118154419622.pdf?mediaDL=true |title=存档副本 |access-date=2022-05-21 |archive-date=2022-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710190822/https://www.cprc.moj.gov.tw/media/8458/6118154419622.pdf?mediaDL=true}}</ref>
| convictions = *[[Murder]] (4 counts)
*[[Attempted murder]] (22 counts)
}}

On 21 May 2014, a Taiwanese man carried out a stabbing spree targeting random civilians on a [[Taipei Metro C321]] train near [[Jiangzicui Station]], resulting in four deaths and 24 injuries. It was the first fatal attack on the city's subway system since operations began in 1996.<ref name="Strait">{{cite news |title=Four killed, 21 wounded in Taipei subway knife attack |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/east-asia/story/three-killed-25-wounded-taiwan-subway-knife-attack-20140521 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |access-date=21 May 2014 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=21 May 2014 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111552/http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/east-asia/story/three-killed-25-wounded-taiwan-subway-knife-attack-20140521 |url-status=live }}</ref> The attacker, 21-year-old Cheng Chieh, was arrested after the attack. He was sentenced to death, in addition to 144 years in prison, and was executed on 10 May 2016.

==Attack==
The attack started on 21 May 2014 at around 16:25 [[National Standard Time|local time]], inside a [[Bannan Line]] [[Taipei Metro C321|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 three to five minutes.<ref name="Focus">{{cite news |title=3 critically injured in stabbing on Taipei metro (update) |first1=Sunrise |last1=Huang |first2=Hung-kuo |last2=Wang |first3=Wesley |last3=Holzer |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201405210027.aspx |agency=[[Central News Agency (Republic of China)|Central News Agency]] |access-date=21 May 2014 |date=21 May 2014 |archive-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909092414/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201405210027.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> During the attack, the assailant chased and hacked passengers with a 30&nbsp;cm long fruit knife.<ref name="Focus2">{{cite news |title=4 dead in metro killing spree, with youngest aged 26 |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201405210045.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=21 May 2014 |first1=Yi-han |last1=Huang |first2=Elizabeth |last2=Hsu |date=21 May 2014 |archive-date=23 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223112002/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201405210045.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=有人丟桶、有人出拳…／英雄挺身 合擒鄭捷 |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E6%9C%89%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%9F%E6%A1%B6-%E6%9C%89%E4%BA%BA%E5%87%BA%E6%8B%B3-%E8%8B%B1%E9%9B%84%E6%8C%BA%E8%BA%AB-%E5%90%88%E6%93%92%E9%84%AD%E6%8D%B7-221102609.html |work=[[Liberty Times]] |publisher=Yahoo! News Taiwan |access-date=23 May 2014 |date=23 May 2014 |language=Chinese |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523231211/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E6%9C%89%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%9F%E6%A1%B6-%E6%9C%89%E4%BA%BA%E5%87%BA%E6%8B%B3-%E8%8B%B1%E9%9B%84%E6%8C%BA%E8%BA%AB-%E5%90%88%E6%93%92%E9%84%AD%E6%8D%B7-221102609.html |archive-date=23 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===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 were 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.<ref name="Focus2"/><ref>{{cite web |title=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 |url=http://www.ettoday.net/news/20140522/360104.htm |publisher=[[ETtoday (TV channel)|ET Today]] |access-date=25 May 2014 |language=Chinese |date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=22 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522214717/http://www.ettoday.net/news/20140522/360104.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Perpetrator ==
Cheng Chieh ({{Lang-zh|c=鄭捷}}), also [[Romanization of Chinese|romanized]] as Zheng Jie, was born 3 April 1993 in the [[Banqiao District]], and attended schools in Taipei.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-03-07 |title=濫殺4人 兇殘如豺狼 鄭捷判4死刑 |trans-title=After the murder of four people, cruel as a jackal, Cheng Chieh sentenced to death |work=[[Apple Daily (Taiwan)|Apple Daily]] |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20150307/36423667/ |access-date=2016-04-22 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419023907/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20150307/36423667/ |archivedate=2016-04-19}}</ref> He grew up with few friends, and was extremely focused on his studies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-05-22 |title=鄭捷家住板橋地王豪宅 父母得知兒子殺人後都發抖 |language=zh-TW |work=ETtoday |publisher= |url=http://www.ettoday.net/news/20140522/360049.htm |url-status=live |access-date=2016-04-22 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529131809/http://www.ettoday.net/news/20140522/360049.htm |archivedate=2016-05-29}}</ref> Cheng was also interested in violent online games and had written horror stories.<ref>{{cite news |title=我知道我會被判死刑 「今天沒課決定動手」 |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20140522/35845918/ |access-date=22 April 2016 |work=Apple Daily |date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=18 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418220128/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20140522/35845918/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Transit firm sues Taipei tube slasher for damages |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1526219/transit-firm-sues-taipei-tube-slasher-damages |access-date=8 January 2016 |work=South China Morning Post |agency=Agence France Presse |date=30 June 2014 |archive-date=1 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601062905/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1526219/transit-firm-sues-taipei-tube-slasher-damages |url-status=live }}</ref>

In elementary school, Cheng threatened to kill classmates over small disagreements. In [[Junior High School|junior high school]], he had carried a knife for a month looking for a chance to stab his teacher. In high school, Cheng began blogging about his plans to kill and posted articles about murders. He enrolled in the [[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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Lilian |title=Death penalty sought for Taipei Metro 'mass murder' suspect |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201407210023.aspx |access-date=22 July 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=21 July 2014 |archive-date=7 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707065516/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201407210023.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TaipeiTimes" /> School officials there had noticed Cheng's startling social media activity and offered him counseling before the incident, but no irregularities were discovered.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Cindy |last2=Lin |first2=Adela |title=Taiwan Student Detained After Four Killed in Subway Attack |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-21/taiwan-student-allegedly-stabs-4-to-death-on-taipei-city-metro.html |access-date=15 August 2014 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=22 May 2013 |archive-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083636/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-21/taiwan-student-allegedly-stabs-4-to-death-on-taipei-city-metro.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At the time of the attack, Cheng lived in the [[Banqiao District]] of New Taipei with his parents and younger brother.<ref>{{cite news |title=兇嫌鄭捷鄰居 難以置信 |url=http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20140521004924-260402 |access-date=22 April 2016 |work=China Times |date=21 May 2014 |language=Chinese |archive-date=23 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423173617/http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20140521004924-260402 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After graduating from high school, Cheng enrolled in the Department of Power and Systems Engineering at the [[National Defense University (Republic of China)|National Defense University]];<ref>{{cite news |author=章 |first=明德 |date=2014-05-21 |title=【捷運殺人】有預警！其他管道提醒東海：注意鄭捷 |language=zh-TW |work=[[Apple Daily (Taiwan)|Apple Daily]] |publisher= |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20140521/402055/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529143209/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20140521/402055 |archivedate=2016-05-29}}</ref> until June 2013, in the second semester of his sophomore year, he was reprimanded by the school for failing to obtain more than half of the credits in that semester. He dropped out,<ref name="行兇驚愕法官">{{cite news |author=王 |first=書僮 |date=2015-10-30 |title=台北殺人魔二審判死 行凶錄像驚愕法官 |language=zh-TW |work=[[Duowei News]] |publisher= |url=http://taiwan.dwnews.com/news/2015-10-30/59691883.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526022251/http://taiwan.dwnews.com/news/2015-10-30/59691883.html |archivedate=2016-05-26}}</ref> and in September of the same year, he entered the second year of the Department of Environmental Engineering at [[Tunghai University]], through the transfer exam. During the university's winter vacation in 2014, Cheng again applied to transfer to another school. He aimed to transfer to the Chinese literature department, but failed to pass the exam.<ref name="行兇驚愕法官" /><ref>{{cite news |author=許 |first=人元 |date=2014-05-22 |title=北捷喋血/東海：鄭捷對中文系較有興趣 |language=zh-TW |work=[[Central Daily News|CDNews]] |publisher= |url=http://www.cdnews.com.tw/cdnews_site/docDetail.jsp?coluid=108&docid=102766226 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526022904/http://www.cdnews.com.tw/cdnews_site/docDetail.jsp?coluid=108&docid=102766226 |archivedate=2016-05-26}}</ref> Cheng's parents told the police that he had a lively personality in high school, and his personality changed after he dropped out of National Defense University.<ref>{{cite news |author=高 |first1=華襄 |last2=葉 |first2=子杰 |date=2014-05-22 |title=鄭捷遭退學性情變 父母:愧對社會 |language=zh-TW |trans-title=When Cheng Chieh was expelled from school, his temperament changed – Parents: shame of the community |work=[[Chinese Television System|CTS]] |publisher= |url=http://news.cts.com.tw/cts/general/201405/201405221426268.html#.V0ZhCfl95D8 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519120053/http://news.cts.com.tw/cts/general/201405/201405221426268.html#.V0ZhCfl95D8 |archivedate=2016-05-19}}</ref>

==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-pin]] said police presence on the metro was increased soon after the incident and added that he was requesting reinforcements from the [[National Police Agency (Republic of China)|National Police Agency]].<ref name="Focus"/>

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.<ref>{{cite web |last=袁 |first=志豪 |title=鄭捷收押北所 編號1892 |url=http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NAT4/8694713.shtml |work=[[United Daily News]] |access-date=23 May 2014 |language=Chinese |date=23 May 2014 |archive-date=23 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523031701/http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NAT4/8694713.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Li |first=Lauly |title=MRT assailant detained in solitary confinement |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/05/23/408398/MRT-assailant.htm |work=[[The China Post]] |access-date=23 May 2014 |date=23 May 2014}}</ref>

Trainset number 117/118, which was the setting of the stabbing attack, was temporarily withdrawn from service after arrival at Jiangzicui Station and underwent disinfection and change of seats. It was then renumbered 175/176 (173/174 was avoided as "{{lang|zh-hant|一七三，一七四}}" (pinyin: {{transliteration|zh|iso|yīqīsān, yīqīsì}}) sounds like "{{lang|zh-hant|一起殺，一起死}}" ({{transliteration|zh|iso|yīqǐ shā, yīqǐ sǐ}}), which literally means "kill together, die together") and returned to service in May 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tw.appledaily.com/headline/20150316/DXGCJKHIOCB3YCV5GO2YYPO3NM/|title=悄改號 鄭捷列車5月載客|language=zh-tw|trans-title=Number quietly changed, Cheng Chieh train to carry passengers in May|last=Lin|first=Yüanling|work=[[Apple Daily (Taiwan)|Apple Daily]]|date=16 March 2015|access-date=21 May 2022|archive-date=21 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521222225/https://tw.appledaily.com/headline/20150316/DXGCJKHIOCB3YCV5GO2YYPO3NM/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Questioning after attack===
New Taipei Police Chief {{ill|Chen Kuo-en|zh|陳國恩}} 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.<ref name="Strait"/><ref name="AP">{{cite news |title=3 people killed in Taiwan subway stabbing spree |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/3-people-killed-in-taiwan-subway-stabbing-spree/2014/05/21/d7c27c2c-e0ce-11e3-9442-54189bf1a809_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529112506/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/3-people-killed-in-taiwan-subway-stabbing-spree/2014/05/21/d7c27c2c-e0ce-11e3-9442-54189bf1a809_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 May 2014 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=21 May 2014 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=21 May 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |language=Chinese |title=捷運喋血 鄭嫌：沒課提前犯案 |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E6%8D%B7%E9%81%8B%E5%96%8B%E8%A1%80-%E9%84%AD%E5%AB%8C-%E6%B2%92%E8%AA%B2%E6%8F%90%E5%89%8D%E7%8A%AF%E6%A1%88-145835151.html |work=Central News Agency |publisher=[[Yahoo! News]] Taiwan |access-date=22 May 2014 |date=21 May 2014 |archive-date=22 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522014226/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E6%8D%B7%E9%81%8B%E5%96%8B%E8%A1%80-%E9%84%AD%E5%AB%8C-%E6%B2%92%E8%AA%B2%E6%8F%90%E5%89%8D%E7%8A%AF%E6%A1%88-145835151.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=Chinese |title=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 |url=http://www.setnews.net/News.aspx?PageGroupID=1&NewsID=24194&PageType=2 |publisher=[[SET News]] |access-date=22 May 2014 |date=21 May 2014 |archive-date=22 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522004005/http://www.setnews.net/News.aspx?PageGroupID=1&NewsID=24194&PageType=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> The suspect stated that he did not admit guilt, felt no regret, wanted 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=就算爸媽在車上 鄭捷：照殺不誤 |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%B0%B1%E7%AE%97%E7%88%B8%E5%AA%BD%E5%9C%A8%E8%BB%8A%E4%B8%8A-%E9%84%AD%E6%8D%B7-%E7%85%A7%E6%AE%BA%E4%B8%8D%E8%AA%A4-221017577.html |work=Liberty Times |publisher=Yahoo! News Taiwan |access-date=23 May 2014 |date=23 May 2014 |language=Chinese |archive-date=23 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523231226/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%B0%B1%E7%AE%97%E7%88%B8%E5%AA%BD%E5%9C%A8%E8%BB%8A%E4%B8%8A-%E9%84%AD%E6%8D%B7-%E7%85%A7%E6%AE%BA%E4%B8%8D%E8%AA%A4-221017577.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reactions==
[[File:Cenotaph Screen Shot of Taipei Metro Banqiao Line Attack 7th Days 20140527.jpg|thumb|200px|Condolence message displayed on a Taipei Metro Information television after the incident. (Shot on the [[Wenhu line|Wenhu Line]] Station Platform.)]]
[[File:Floral Tribute for Victims of Taipei Metro Banqiao Line Attack 20140523b.jpg|thumb|200px|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.<ref name=scmp>{{cite web |title=Taiwan mourns four victims of stabbing spree on Taipei subway |url=http://www.scmp.com/article/1517911/taiwan-mourns-four-victims-stabbling-spree-taipei-subway |agency=Agence France-Presse |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |access-date=24 May 2014 |date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=17 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917223343/https://www.scmp.com/article/1517911/taiwan-mourns-four-victims-stabbling-spree-taipei-subway |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 22 May, President [[Ma Ying-jeou]] condemned the attack and ordered the [[National Police Agency (Republic of China)|National Police Agency]] to investigate what led a university student to stab four people to death on a crowded subway train.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan president orders investigation of subway stabbing |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/taiwan-president-orders-investigation-of-subway-stabbing/ |agency=Associated Press |publisher=[[Fox News]] |access-date=23 May 2014 |date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=22 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522195658/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/05/22/taiwan-president-orders-investigation-what-led-to-subway-stabbings/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Police to deploy full-time at MRT stations in Taipei |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/05/25/2003591167 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |access-date=26 May 2014 |date=25 May 2014 |archive-date=26 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526082617/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/05/25/2003591167 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Stacy |title=MRT attacker kills 4 people, injures 22 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/05/22/2003590929 |access-date=15 August 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=24 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624130704/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/05/22/2003590929 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Taipei City Government]] also raised funds to use as compensation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Chi-hao James |title=TRTC to sue MRT stabber for NT$20.61 million |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/06/06/409466/TRTC-to.htm |access-date=30 October 2015 |work=The China Post |date=6 June 2014 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306021149/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/06/06/409466/TRTC-to.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Tunghai University]], where Cheng was a student, stated after the incident, expressing sorrow at his actions and stating that "No matter what, Cheng will always be our family" and urging students to show care for one another. They also promised to set up an expert committee to investigate the environment at the college.<ref>{{cite web |last=陳 |first=和琳 |title=捷運殺人！ 東海大學公開信：鄭捷是家人 |url=http://news.tvbs.com.tw/entry/532586 |publisher=[[TVBS]] |access-date=27 May 2014 |language=Chinese |date=23 May 2014 |archive-date=7 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907180405/https://news.tvbs.com.tw/entry/532586 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=給親愛的東海大學大家庭成員及朋友們的一封信 |trans-title=A letter to our dear Tokai University family members and friends |url=http://www.thu.edu.tw/web/announcement/announcement_detail.php?cid=7&id=3467 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201144537/http://www.thu.edu.tw/web/announcement/announcement_detail.php?cid=7&id=3467 |archive-date=2016-12-01 |accessdate=2016-12-01 |website=Tunghai University |language=zh-TW}}</ref>

Kuomintang legislator {{ill|Chiang Huei-chen|zh|江惠貞}} said the passengers had put themselves in danger by focusing on their [[smartphones]], while another KMT legislator, [[Lin Te-fu]], 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.<ref>{{cite news |date=2014-05-21 |title=【捷運殺人】捷運殺人魔畢業留言 「我沒放火燒我家」 |language=zh-TW |trans-title=MRT murderer's graduation message: "I didn't set fire to my house" |work=[[Apple Daily (Taiwan)|Apple Daily]] |publisher= |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20140521/402018/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2014-05-23 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526030845/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20140521/402018/ |archivedate=2014-05-26}}</ref>

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 2014.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Sophie |first2=Vivian |last2=Kam |first3=Chieu |last3=Luu |first4=Greg |last4=Botelho |last1=Brown |title=Man stabs passengers aboard Taiwan train |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/21/world/asia/taiwan-train-stabbing/?hpt=hp_t3 |work=[[CNN]] |publisher=[[CNN.com]] |access-date=23 May 2014 |date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=24 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524003655/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/21/world/asia/taiwan-train-stabbing/?hpt=hp_t3 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{ill|Lin Hsin-yi (activist)|lt=Lin Hsin-yi|zh|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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wen |first2=Evelyn |last2=Kao |first1=Kuei-hsiang |title=KMT lawmaker proposes mandatory penalty for metro killings |url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2488261 |agency=Central News Agency |work=[[Taiwan News]] |access-date=23 May 2014 |date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=23 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523225815/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2488261 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 27 May, Cheng Chieh's parents publicly apologized at Jiangzicui Station and called for a quick death sentence for their son.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Huang |first2=Jay |last2=Chen |first3=Evelyn |last3=Kao |first1=Kuo-fang |title=Victims' relatives reject apology by subway knifeman's parents |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201405270026.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=27 May 2014 |date=27 May 2014 |archive-date=28 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528055829/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201405270026.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Shan |first=Shelley |title=MRT suspect's parents apologize |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/05/28/2003591399 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |access-date=27 May 2014 |date=27 May 2014 |archive-date=28 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528080258/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/05/28/2003591399 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cheng's parents told the media that he liked to play violent fighting games,<ref>{{cite news |date=2014-05-22 |title=台北地鐵砍人案嫌犯父母稱其很宅愛玩殺人遊戲 |language=zh |work=[[Sina News]] |publisher= |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-05-22/090830196421.shtml |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526024512/http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-05-22/090830196421.shtml |archivedate=2016-05-26}}</ref> and when he was interrogated by the police, Cheng said that the games he liked to play were ''[[League of Legends]]'' and ''[[Tower of Saviors]]'', both of which are "fighting type" video games; the Taiwanese operational team for ''League of Legends'' issued a statement saying that its game had nothing to do with Cheng's motive for the murder, and the company behind ''Tower of Saviors'' also stated that the product is a [[Tile-matching video game|match-three game]], which had nothing to do with the crime.<ref>{{cite news |date=2014-05-23 |title=鄭捷玩game變壞？英雄聯盟：我們不是格鬥、殺人遊戲 |language=zh-TW |work=NOWnews |publisher= |url=http://news.cnyes.com/Content/20140523/KIVH2OQ2IRYY.shtml |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529131103/http://news.cnyes.com/Content/20140523/KIVH2OQ2IRYY.shtml |archivedate=2016-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2014-05-23 |title=捷運殺人事件兇手愛玩《英雄聯盟》，被指稱是暴力電玩 Garena 有話要說 |language=zh-TW |trans-title=The MRT murderer loved to play League of Legends — Garena has something to say about the allegedly violent video game |work=T客邦 |publisher= |url=http://www.techbang.com/posts/18312-north-czech-killings-alluding-to-league-of-legends-violent-video-games-garena-have-something-to-say |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921131136/http://www.techbang.com/posts/18312-north-czech-killings-alluding-to-league-of-legends-violent-video-games-garena-have-something-to-say |archivedate=2016-09-21}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Hung-kuo |last2=Chen |first2=Jay |title=Man indicted for Taiwan's first subway murders |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201407210004.aspx |access-date=21 July 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=21 July 2014 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113912/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201407210004.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Hung-kuo |last2=Chang |first2=S.C. |title=Metro killing suspect to be indicted Monday |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201407200021.aspx |access-date=21 July 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230549/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201407200021.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The prosecution was led by Chen Po-chun.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chao |first1=Li-yen |last2=Liu |first2=Shih-yi |last3=Lo |first3=James |title=Former 2014 Taipei Metro attack prosecutor dies in hiking accident |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202209140027 |access-date=15 September 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=14 September 2022 |archive-date=14 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914235651/https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202209140027 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news |title=Taiwan metro firm seeks compensation from subway killer |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-metro-firm-seeks-compensation-from-subway-killer |access-date=30 October 2015 |work=The Straits Times |agency=Agence France Presse |date=5 June 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084247/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-metro-firm-seeks-compensation-from-subway-killer |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shan |first1=Shelley |title=TRTC sues suspect for millions |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/06/06/2003592124 |access-date=30 October 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=6 July 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034821/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/06/06/2003592124 |url-status=live }}</ref> causing them to lose NT$20.61 million, an amount for which they sued Cheng.<ref name="TaipeiTimes">{{cite news |title=Death demanded in stabbing case |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/22/2003595656 |access-date=22 July 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=22 July 2014 |archive-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725101658/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/22/2003595656 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cheng was found guilty of four counts of murder and 22 counts of attempted murder on 6 March 2015 in the Taiwan New Taipei District Court. For each count of murder, he was sentenced to death and deprivation of citizen's rights for life; for each count of attempted murder, he was sentenced to a jail term of between five years, two months and eight years. His knife was also confiscated.<ref>{{cite web |title=臺灣新北地方法院刑事103矚重訴1號 (Taiwan New Taipei District Court Criminal Judgement 103,矚重訴,1) |url=http://jirs.judicial.gov.tw/FJUD/index_1_S.aspx?p=827WBg5E4uNdrwUI0IKW0CCu6LWH7DeXhxNqWwszWmQ%3d |website=Law and Regulations Retrieving System |publisher=The Judicial Yuan of the Republic of China |access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Ting-chuan |last2=Chung |first2=Jake |title=MRT killer sentenced to death |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/03/07/2003612951 |access-date=7 March 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=7 March 2015 |archive-date=8 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308193430/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/03/07/2003612951 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Sunrise |last2=Wang |first2=Hung-kuo |last3=Wang |first3=Chao-yu |last4=Hou |first4=Elaine |title=Metro attacker sentenced to death (update) |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201503060018.aspx |access-date=7 March 2015 |agency=Central News Agency |date=6 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095947/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201503060018.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> On 7 August, the New Taipei District Court ordered Cheng to pay approximately NT$30 million to ten victims of the attack.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=H.S. |last2=Lillian |first2=Lin |title=MRT killer sentenced to pay victims and families over NT$30 million |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201508070035.aspx |access-date=7 August 2015 |agency=Central News Agency |date=7 August 2015 |archive-date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808201905/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201508070035.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=MRT attacker must pay NT$29.8m |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/08/08/2003624876 |access-date=8 August 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=8 August 2015 |archive-date=11 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811212257/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/08/08/2003624876 |url-status=live }}</ref> His death sentence was appealed to the Taiwan High Court, which upheld the ruling.<ref>{{cite web |title=臺灣高等法院刑事104矚上重訴6號 (Taiwan High Court Criminal Judgement 104,矚上重訴,6) |url=http://jirs.judicial.gov.tw/FJUD/index_1_S.aspx?p=2nd8zFO9SM8Az0wy8ytBBuDn2ajak%2fq7udRrW4%2bGjTPDbdIgpbsXFQ%3d%3d |website=Law and Regulations Retrieving System |publisher=The Judicial Yuan of the Republic of China |access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Shi-yi |last2=Chen |first2=Jay |title=High court upholds death sentence against Taipei Metro attacker |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201510300008.aspx?q=high%20court |access-date=30 October 2015 |agency=Central News Agency |date=30 October 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053407/http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201510300008.aspx?q=high%20court |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Death sentence for MRT attacker upheld |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/10/31/2003631361 |access-date=31 October 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=31 October 2015 |archive-date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031123828/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/10/31/2003631361 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=MRT killer ordered to pay NT$61.39m compensation |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/01/08/2003636714 |access-date=8 January 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=8 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044040/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/01/08/2003636714 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2016, Cheng was granted permission to attend the [[Supreme Court of the Republic of China|Supreme Court]] proceedings for his final appeal of the death sentence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=MRT killer to appear in Supreme Court hearing |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/02/06/2003638934 |access-date=7 April 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=6 February 2016 |archive-date=17 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417042843/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/02/06/2003638934 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=MRT killer says he deserves to be put to death |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/04/08/2003643446 |access-date=8 April 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=8 April 2016 |archive-date=9 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409003448/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/04/08/2003643446 |url-status=live }}</ref> The court's final decision, to uphold all previous rulings, was issued on 22 April.<ref>{{cite web |title=最高法院刑事105台上984號 (Supreme Court Criminal Judgement 105,台上,984) |url=http://jirs.judicial.gov.tw/FJUD/index_1_S.aspx?p=7YklT%2b2eEtR2kqqgBciH4pOILSqU8KTKJ5eU%2b%2bnkpF8%3d |website=Law and Regulations Retrieving System |publisher=The Judicial Yuan of the Republic of China |access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tsai |first1=Paige |last2=Chen |first2=Jay |last3=Hsu |first3=Elizabeth |title=Court upholds death sentence for knifeman in Taipei metro attack (update) |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/search/201604220010.aspx |access-date=22 April 2016 |agency=Central News Agency |date=22 April 2016}}</ref> Cheng's criminal penalties included a total of 144 years imprisonment and four death sentences.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Top court upholds death penalty for Taipei MRT killer |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/04/23/2003644602 |access-date=23 April 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=23 April 2016 |archive-date=23 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423022547/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/04/23/2003644602 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Execution===
Justice Minister [[Luo Ying-shay]] signed the [[execution order]] for Cheng at 17:00 on 10 May 2016. Cheng was executed at 20:47 on the same day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |last2=Chung |first2=Jake |title=MRT murderer executed with appeal unheard |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/05/11/2003645983 |access-date=11 May 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=11 May 2016 |archive-date=13 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195726/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/05/11/2003645983 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Justice minister explains Cheng's rapid execution |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/05/12/2003646059 |access-date=12 May 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=12 May 2016 |archive-date=12 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512103421/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/05/12/2003646059 |url-status=live }}</ref> The 18-day gap between Cheng's final guilty verdict and execution was the shortest in Taiwanese judicial history.<ref>{{cite news |title=MRT killing spree murderer executed |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2016/05/10/465732/MRT-killing.htm |access-date=11 May 2016 |work=China Post |date=10 May 2016 |archive-date=11 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511123824/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2016/05/10/465732/MRT-killing.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{commons category|2014 Taipei Metro Banqiao Line Attack}}
* [[Shimonoseki Station massacre]]
* [[List of rampage killers in Asia]]
* [[Murder of Nia Wilson]]
* [[2024 Taichung Metro attack]], occurred exactly 10 years later.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mass stabbings in the 2010s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taipei Metro attack}}
[[Category:2010s in Taipei]]
[[Category:2010s murders in Taiwan]]
[[Category:2014 crimes in Taiwan]]
[[Category:2014 in Taiwan]]
[[Category:2014 murders in Asia]]
[[Category:Attacks on railway stations in Asia]]
[[Category:Deaths by stabbing in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Knife attacks in Asia]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2014]]
[[Category:Mass murder in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Mass stabbings in Asia]]
[[Category:May 2014 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:Murder in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Stabbing attacks in 2014]]
[[Category:Taipei Metro]]