'Tell my mum & dad I love them very much': Eyewitness recounts final moments with Taipei knife attack victim

A 27-year-old man went on a knife rampage in Taipei on Dec. 19, killing at least three people and injuring 11 others.

The attacker reportedly threw smoke bombs at Taipei Main Station and in the nearby Zhongshan area during the evening rush hour, before approaching the crowd with a long knife.

He was described as wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, sneakers, a mask and protective gear.

The attack shocked the city, as such incidents are rare in Taiwan.

"Tell my mum and dad I love them very much"

An eyewitness later recounted her experience on Threads, in a post that garnered more than 124,000 likes and 12,000 shares.

She said she was shopping at Eslite Spectrum department store after work when two girls suddenly rushed in and alerted staff that someone was carrying a knife.

Moments later, she saw people running for their lives and a man dressed in black attacking individuals who were alone.

One man collapsed after being attacked. The eyewitness and others rushed to his aid, and she used her outerwear to stem the bleeding while calling the police and paramedics.

Some also tried talking to him and praying.

As he was about to lose consciousness, the man reportedly told them, “Remember to tell my dad and mum that I love them very much.” The eyewitness recalled telling him to hang on and not give up.

By the time paramedics arrived, the floor was already covered in blood.

The eyewitness said she was deeply shaken by the incident and later broke down in tears after repeatedly missing her stops on the way home.

In a subsequent Threads update, she shared that the injured man eventually died from the attack. His relatives and colleagues later reached out to her, and she asked them to relay his final words to his parents.

“Please take note of your surroundings when you’re out, and remember to express your love to your loved ones. Live with no regrets,” she wrote.

Retail staff saved lives

Another Threads user shared how a retail staff member’s quick thinking helped save lives.

He said he encountered three foreign women on Level 2 of the department store and used simple English to warn them that someone was carrying a knife. He also immediately alerted a staff member.

He praised the staff member for acting swiftly by directing people into a changing room to hide. The staff member, who spoke fluent English, helped calm the foreigners before stepping out to guide more people to safety.

The atmosphere was tense as screams could be heard from outside. The staff member later assisted everyone in escaping the building via an emergency staircase.

Her ability to remain calm amid the chaos has since drawn praise from netizens.

Top photos from @AlexChi74863537/X and screenshot of circulated video