TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Despite Taiwan ranking as the fifth safest country worldwide in 2024, recent knife attacks on public transportation are concerning. The latest incident was on the Taiwan High Speed Rail on Nov. 16, when a man attacked a female passenger and stabbed a tray table. A week prior, a random stabbing on the Taipei Metro injured one person, heightening safety concerns.
As of Nov. 9, the Taipei City Police Department Rapid Transit Division (台北捷警隊) recorded 17 knife-related incidents since the first-ever major tragic metro stabbing in 2014, with 9 of the incidents causing 4 deaths and 35 injuries in the Taipei and New Taipei Metro.
Although the public intends to link these attacks to mental illness, Deputy Health Minister Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) urged the society not to immediately make assumptions as it risks deepening the stigma surrounding such conditions. Psychologist Lin Hsi-tao (林希陶) stressed that, according to past research, only 3% of violent behavior is significantly linked to mental illness, which means 97% of violent acts are committed by those without illness.
Despite a lack of evidence of a direct link between the rise in violence to mental health issues, the government should take preventative actions by adding mental health support stations into public transportation systems. For instance, Australia has stationed trained mental health personnel in major train stations to observe passengers’ emotional status, offer couseling, and contact medical services when necessary.
Taiwan must proactively address rising violent acts on public transportation while fostering a supportive environment to ensure public safety and well-being.