Man to be charged with grievous hurt on Monday after stabbing Catholic priest at St Joseph’s Church

A 37-year-old man will face charges on Monday (11 Nov) for grievous hurt after a stabbing incident at St Joseph’s Church in Singapore on Saturday evening.

The attack, which took place during a children’s mass, saw the alleged assailant use a foldable knife to stab the parish priest, Father Christopher Lee, who remains in stable condition.

Police have ruled out religious motivation in the attack, stating that they believe the man acted alone.

Members of the congregation acted quickly to subdue the attacker.

Two individuals, Mr Richard Tan Chai Boon and Mr Damien Liew Khee Rui, were later awarded the Singapore Police Force’s Public Spiritedness Award for their bravery. Mr Tan described his intervention as instinctive, and Mr Liew shared his motivation to ensure no further harm was caused.

The head of the Catholic Church in Singapore, Cardinal William Goh, expressed sorrow over the event, stating that he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the violence within a sacred space.

Cardinal Goh expressed concern for the psychological impact on the children and others who witnessed the attack, urging calm and patience as authorities investigate.

“I ask the faithful to remain calm, not to speculate on the incident or pass judgment without knowing all the facts,” he posted on social media.

The accused, a Singaporean Sinhalese who had previously declared Christianity as his religion, was apprehended by police shortly after the incident.

Police revealed that the suspect has a history of serious hurt and drug misuse.

Following his arrest, authorities discovered four additional weapons in his possession. The police have requested a court order to remand the man at he Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric evaluation.

If convicted of the grievous hurt charge, the accused could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years, as well as possible fines or caning.

Police reiterated that they have found no evidence to suggest the incident was religiously motivated or connected to terrorism.

Father Lee, who was taken to the National University Hospital, is reported to be conscious and in stable condition.

St Joseph’s Church confirmed that all services would continue as scheduled on Sunday.

The Catholic Archdiocese expressed gratitude to the congregation members who intervened, noting the importance of community strength in overcoming the trauma of the incident.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed deep concern over the incident in a Facebook post, noting the need for healing within the church community. “Violence has no place in Singapore. Most of all, we must uphold the safety and sanctity of our places of worship—places where people seek peace, solace, and community,” Mr Wong stated. He called for calm and resilience, emphasizing that unity is essential in moving forward from such events.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong also voiced his dismay, sharing that he was “very shocked” to hear of the stabbing shortly after it occurred. “Such violence, of any form and for any reason, has absolutely no place in Singapore, let alone at a place of worship,” he stated. Mr Tong confirmed that the priest was being treated by paramedics before being taken to the hospital and offered his prayers for the priest’s recovery.

The police have advised the public to avoid speculation and remain calm as the investigation into the assailant’s motives continues.

This stabbing follows a violent incident on 8 November at Pasir Ris Park, where police shot a 42-year-old man during an attempted ambush on officers.

The suspect, who had a knife and a homemade flame-throwing device, had allegedly called police to the scene with false information before springing an attack on arriving officers.

The man was arrested and taken to the hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment and is expected to face charges for attempted murder.