Willis Loye sprints through Taichung streets to tackle masked teen armed with knives.

Singaporean singer Willis Loye helped foil a potential knife attack in Taichung after chasing and subduing a masked teenager who fled a crowded temple celebration.

Suspicious Figure At Grand Guandi Temple
On April 18, 2026, Singaporean singer Willis Loye, 43, had just finished performing modern temple music at the Grand Guandi Temple in Taichung when he noticed a figure dressed in black, wearing gloves and a white smiley-face mask in the crowd. The person stood unusually still, slowly waving at performers while holding a shiny object protruding from a pocket. Loye told The Straits Times on April 20 that he initially thought the figure was a hired magician, until the temple owner approached to question him and the masked person suddenly bolted from the celebration.

Fifteen-Minute Chase Through Taichung Streets
Sensing danger, Loye and the temple owner, along with three other men, gave chase from the temple into an open carpark, where Loye told the suspect to remove his mask and picked up a long wooden stick for protection. The masked youth refused and fled again when Loye threatened to call the police, prompting a pursuit that stretched across three streets and a busy road junction for more than 15 minutes. Loye later said he was not afraid of the suspect but was worried about being hit by a car or mistaken as the attacker during the chase.

Armed Teen Subdued Before Police Arrival
When the suspect paused to adjust his hoodie, Loye and another man approached from behind, struck him with the wooden stick and wrestled him to the ground. Loye used his body weight to press down on the suspect’s knees as the teenager struggled and shouted, “Don’t remove my mask! Don’t call the police!” Passers-by were asked to call officers to the scene. Taiwanese outlet LTN later reported that the suspect was a 17-year-old known as Chen, believed to have mental health issues, who was subsequently sent to a hospital for treatment and evaluation.

Knives Recovered And Officers Injured
When police arrived, they found the teen in possession of a knife. As they attempted to detain him, he produced another blade hidden in his sleeve and sliced the fingers of a policewoman and another man. Despite the sudden escalation, officers managed to secure the suspect. Loye then assisted the injured policewoman by helping to clean her wounds. The swift intervention prevented any further harm among the roughly 100 people, including many children, who had been attending the temple celebration that evening.

Viral Praise And Fears Of Repeat Knife Attack
Loye’s account of the incident, shared on social media platform Threads, quickly went viral, drawing more than a million views and thousands of comments praising his actions. He said he feared the situation could mirror the Taipei knife attack of December 19, 2025, when a knife-wielding attacker killed three people and injured 11 others in central Taipei. Based in Taiwan since being stranded there during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Loye said he was relieved that he and others acted quickly before the teenager could attack anyone at the temple event.

The Taichung incident underlines how quick thinking by bystanders can help avert tragedy in crowded public spaces, especially where knives or other weapons are involved. For Indonesians and Singaporeans who frequently travel in the region, it highlights both the importance of situational awareness at events and the continuing need for strong coordination between communities and law enforcement to prevent copycat attacks like the deadly Taipei rampage in 2025.

Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Must Share News (2026)

Keywords: Willis Loye Heroism, Taichung Grand Guandi Temple, Taiwan Knife Suspect, Singaporean Performer, Temple Celebration Security, Taipei Knife Attack