26-year-old Bukit Timah church volunteer to be charged after he ‘immobilised’ himself with suspicious item

Bukit Timah church volunteer said he discovered suspicious item, but held on to it

Authorities will charge a male church volunteer on Monday (22 Dec) with making a false threat of terrorist act, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a statement on Monday (22 Dec).

Police arrested the 26-year-old man after he said he discovered a suspicious item at St Joseph’s Church along Upper Bukit Timah Road.

He “immobilised himself” and held on to the suspicious item, said the SPF in an update on Sunday (21 Dec) afternoon.

SPF also said that preliminary investigations suggest the man staged the incident. He did so by placing a self-fabricated item, which resembled an improvised explosive device, within the church premises.

“He is believed to have acted alone and there is currently no evidence to suggest that it was a religiously motivated attack or an act of terror,” added SPF.

Bukit Timah church volunteer says he discovered item in drain

SPF received a call for assistance at about 7.10am on Sunday, regarding the suspicious item.

When officers arrived, the man said he had discovered the item in a drain within the church premises, SPF said, adding:

Thereafter, he immobilised himself and held on to the suspicious item.

No explosive elements present in item

As the item resembled an improvised explosive device, officers conducted thorough checks.

However, at about 10.40am, they assessed the item to be three cardboard rolls and wires taped with black tape. There were no explosive elements present.

It was then removed from the scene.

In a Facebook post later that evening, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said someone had “tried to create the impression” that the item was an explosive device.

Volunteer arrested under anti-terrorism measures

Police subsequently arrested the volunteer under Regulation 8(2)(a) of the United Nations (Anti-terrorism Measures) Regulations for his suspected involvement in the incident.

According to Singapore Statutes Online, the regulation states that no person in Singapore shall place any article in any place with the intention of “inducing… a false belief” that it is likely to “explode or ignite” and cause injury or damage.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Church premises evacuated for public safety

The incident led authorities to evacuate the church premises for public safety.

SPF also activated the Singapore Armed Forces’ Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group (SAF CBRE) to conduct further assessment.

Following SPF and SAF CBRE’s assessment of the item, they concluded the operations and lifted the cordon at the location at about 5.15pm.

The authorities reported no injuries.

St Joseph’s Church updated its followers on Facebook at 4.30pm. The church stated it was unable to resume operations that day. Father Christopher Lee said it was unable to resume operations that day.

However, Masses would resume as usual on Monday (22 Dec), he added.

3rd recent incident at the church

This is the third recent incident at St Joseph’s Church over a period of more than one year, starting from 9 Nov 2024, when a man stabbed Father Lee during an evening mass.

Authorities subsequently charged the alleged attacker. They identified him as 37-year-old Singaporean Sinhalese Basnayake Keith Spencer. The court charged him with voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon.

On 1 Dec 2024, the church had another scare. A 36-year-old regular attendee had a folding knife in his pocket.

Also read: St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah cordoned off after suspicious item found, police confirm item is ‘harmless’

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