Taipei - A shocking incident occurred in the bustling Ximending district of Taipei, Taiwan, where a Korean exchange student was suddenly attacked with a knife by a stranger while walking on the street.
According to reports from local media outlets such as TVBS, the incident took place around 6:22 AM last Saturday when a Korean exchange student, identified as Mr. A (in his 20s), was stabbed by an unidentified man wielding a knife on a street in Ximending.
The assailant fled the scene in a vehicle immediately after the attack. Police, who were dispatched after receiving a report, tracked the suspect's movements through nearby CCTV footage and apprehended a 39-year-old man, surnamed Chou, within 30 minutes. Police investigations revealed that Mr. Chou was intoxicated at the time of his arrest and had a prior record of assault.
During police questioning, Mr. Chou reportedly confessed that he committed the crime because "a group of Korean students seemed to be staring at him," prompting him to take a knife from his car trunk.
Police have referred Mr. Chou to the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office on charges of attempted murder and endangering public safety.
Following the incident, Mr. A shared his feelings on his social media account, stating, "I went to Ximending to attend a friend's birthday party and was attacked by a stranger. I chose to study in Taiwan because I believed it was safe and had good public security, but this incident has made me reconsider."
Meanwhile, the university where Mr. A is enrolled issued a statement saying, "He is a student at our Chinese Language Center, and we will provide him with the necessary support."
This incident has sent shockwaves through Taiwanese society, as it marks a rare case of random violence targeting a foreign exchange student in a country generally considered safe. Concerns are also growing regarding the safety of overseas Koreans. Taiwanese police authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine the exact motive and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences. The Korean foreign affairs authorities are also expected to look into the details of the incident and provide necessary consular assistance to the victim.
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