Exclusive: man who sacrificed himself in Taipei stabbings, per friend of 30+ years

Exclusive: man who sacrificed himself in Taipei stabbings, per friend of 30+ years

2025-12-22

One of the victims of last Friday’s mass stabbing was Yu Chia-chang, a Taoyuan resident who tried stopping the attacks near Exit M7 of MRT Taipei Main Station. Sadly, he was stabbed to death by the attacker, much to the shock and horror of friends and family. One friend of more than 30 years recounted that Yu once said he would’ve tried to stop the 2014 Taipei metro attack if he had been present. And his action 11 years later revealed him as a true person of his word and honor.

Mr. Lin says when the identity of the man who tried to stop last Friday’s mass-stabbing was revealed bit by bit, he still hoped it wasn’t his friend of more than 30 years, Yu Chia-chang. However, he soon had to accept it was, after texts to him in the friend group were left unanswered.

Mr. Lin
Friend of Yu Chia-chang
What comes first: tomorrow, or an accident?

Mr. Lin traveled from Linkou in New Taipei to Taipei Main Station to offer flowers to his late friend who died trying to restrain the aggressor. He also offered a salute to Yu, since they did mandatory military service together. He recalled how 11 years ago, following the 2014 Taipei Metro attack, Yu mentioned that he would have tried to stop the attacker if he were present.

Mr. Lin
Friend of Yu Chia-chang
So you did act on what you said you’d do more than 10 years ago. But I still think you shouldn’t have been so rash… you need to consider your age. You’re no longer young. That said, we’re still immensely grateful. We’ll always remember your bravery in the depths of our heart.

The photo was taken when the group of friends last met up. They were all smiles. Those who knew 57-year-old Yu all said he was your average good guy and a family man. He chose to reside in Taoyuan and commute to Taipei for work so he could take care of his aging mother. What happened last Friday was the utmost tragedy.

Peng Shih-sung
Zhongxing Borough warden
His mother says he’s always been an honest and straightforward person who stands up for the less fortunate, so what happened didn’t surprise me at all. He just bought a new place in Taoyuan and a new car. He hasn’t even had a chance to drive his new car.

Everyone is paying tribute to the late Yu Chia-chang for his courageous and selfless deed.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taipeiattacks #hero #publicsafety #taipeimetro #余家昶

余家昶壯烈犧牲攔阻恐攻 30年老友哽咽追思

2025-12-22

北捷英雄余家昶，在事發當時以肉身阻擋嫌犯張文投擲汽油彈，卻遭砍傷，不幸身亡。與余家昶相識三十多年的老友，回憶起當時接獲消息，怎麼都不肯相信，在群組標記他，卻始終等不來已讀跟回應，得知余家昶真的罹難，他忍不住為好友紅了眼眶。

回想起看到新聞的當下，隨著罹難者身分曝光，從姓氏、年齡到職業，怎麼都跟認識30多年的老友余家昶，這麼像！群組標記他，卻一直等不到已讀。這才知道，自己的朋友真的在張文隨機攻擊事件中，不幸身亡。

[[余家昶老友林先生]]
“明天跟意外哪一個先到?”

心中感慨，故友余家昶，在北車以肉身奮力阻止張文投擲汽油彈，壯烈犧牲。林先生特地從林口北上，獻花悼念。行舉手禮，因為兩人相識於21砲指部，609營部連，同袍情誼延續至今。個性相似的他們，在當年鄭捷事件後，曾聊到，如果自己遇上，一定會上前制止，只是沒想到諾言，在11年後，真的兌現了。

[[余家昶老友林先生]]
“十幾年前講的話，你今天實現了，可是我是覺得你也太...你要評估你自己的年紀了，你已經不年輕了。雖然是這樣講啦，可是還是很感謝你啦，你的勇敢我們都記在心裡面。”

秀出同袍，聚會照，眾人對鏡頭笑得燦爛。怎麼也沒想到，這竟大伙，最後一張合影。在好友心中，余家昶是個平凡的好人。今年57歲的余家昶，為了兼顧到台北上班跟周末回家看媽媽，選擇住在北桃園，每天通勤，沒想到卻在返家路上，遇到劫難。

[[龍潭區中興里長彭石松]]
“他媽媽講他就是很憨直的人，路見不平，他從小就會幫忙弱勢，所以我覺得一點都不意外。剛買房子在桃園，剛買一部新車，車子都還沒開到。”

余家昶勇敢行徑，不只里長感念，網友也湧進他的臉書，留言追悼。只盼英雄安息，一路好走。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Taipei police were criticized for being slow to respond to last Friday’s attacks. Tthe aggressor had carried out two attacks within 75 minutes, and committed arson three times earlier in the afternoon before the stabbings. On Monday, the director of the Taipei City Police Department explained that given the circumstances and how meticulously the attacks were planned, the officers did done all they possibly could have.

Taipei police are under fire for being “slow” in responding to last Friday’s mass attacks and identifying the instigator. It’s alleged that their handheld transceivers weren’t functioning at the time of the crime.

Huang Jie
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The walkie-takie wasn’t connected. That’s really serious.

Chang Jung-hsing
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It’s simply impossible. They had to verify first that the arsonist was the same person. I believe the police were racing with time when they arrived at the scene.

Looking at security footage from the day, the attacker appeared quite confident while he carried a gas tank to the back of a hotpot restaurant on Chang’an East Road and set the vehicles parked there on fire. At 3:48 p.m. on the 19th, he first committed arson at two locations on Linsen North Road, and then at Chang’an East Road. Critics are wondering why the police did not react there and then.

Chang Yao-jen
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The leadership at the local police station was notified in the group chat by borough wardens of the arsons on separate occasions. At 5:41 p.m., we identified the instigator as the man surnamed Chang.

After the three arson attacks, Chang returned to his rented residence and set it on fire. A great number of canisters were found on the site. Within an hour, he committed arson at three different locations, and it took just as long to track him down.

Chen Jui-chi
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After his facial features were captured more clearly on camera, and corroborated with the intel from Zhongshan Precinct, we interviewed the landlord of his residence on Gongyuan Road to confirm his identity. The entire process took 73 minutes. Immediately afterwards, we began our mission to capture him.

By then, the aggressor had begun to set off smoke bombs at Taipei Main Station. The chief of the local police station and his team arrived on scene just nine minutes later, when the attacker had already gone to his hotel room to change and pick up more weapons for the knife attacks at Zhongshan. Within 75 minutes, he’d committed homicide in two locations. Why wasn’t he stopped?

Chen Jui-chi
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He set off 17 smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails to induce chaos at the scene. It was clearly planned in advance to divert the police. But our team still managed to identify him despite his efforts to distract us.

Amid criticism, the Taipei City police hopes that the public could be more understanding and offer encouragement to officers.

Lee Hsi-ho
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We humbly accept all criticisms and feedback, but I believe our colleagues can all do with simple words of encouragement.

According to the police, the aggressor had planned the whole attack so well that officers did all they could. They say they will continue to remain vigilant, as always.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Voice of Otani Mondo
Japanese celebrity
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Voice of Otani Mondo
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Taiwan and Japan have great relations. Our prime minister is also doing a great job. It’s that simple. Ever since I first brought the taekwondo team to Taiwan, everyone was so nice to me. So Taiwan is my second home, my second country.

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For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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We’re in our 24th year. Every year we celebrate New Year’s Day with everyone at an altitude of 2,400 meters on Alishan. We start our performances at around 5:30 a.m. through to 7 a.m. when the sun rises. When the sun rises, we welcome the first day of the New Year with Beethoven’s Ode to Joy to allow everyone to make the best resolutions on New Year’s Day.

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