Man assisting police after folding knife found at St Joseph’s Church

SINGAPORE: A 36-year-old man is assisting the police after being found in possession of a folding knife at St Joseph’s Church along Upper Bukit Timah Road on Sunday, 1 December.

The discovery was made by vigilant church security volunteers at around 12.35pm, prompting them to alert the authorities.

Police confirmed in a statement that the man, reportedly a regular church attendee and a handyman, was cooperative upon their arrival.

The folding knife was seized, and preliminary investigations suggest the man may have forgotten to store it with his tools after completing an earlier job.

The incident comes in the wake of a violent episode at the same church in November, when a 37-year-old man allegedly attacked the parish priest during a children’s mass.

On 9 November, Basnayake Keith Spencer, a Singaporean, was accused of using a foldable knife to stab Father Christopher Lee Kwong Heng in the mouth.

The attack, which occurred during communion, left Fr Lee with significant injuries, including an 8cm-long laceration on his tongue and cuts to his upper lip and mouth.

Fr Lee, the parish priest, underwent surgery and was reported to be in stable condition the following day.

The incident shocked the congregation, especially as it occurred during a mass where children participated in choir singing and other responsibilities.

Members of the congregation, including the Archdiocesan Emergency Response team, subdued Spencer and handed him over to police.

Authorities later found four additional weapons on him, including a penknife and a mallet.

Spencer, who is not a regular attendee of the church, was subsequently charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon.

Police have stated there is no indication that the attack was motivated by religious or terroristic intent.

However, as a precautionary measure, police patrols at places of worship across Singapore were increased following the incident to ensure public safety and provide reassurance to congregants.

Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam also addressed the matter, affirming that the attack was not believed to be religiously motivated, and clarified that law enforcement is taking steps to maintain security at religious sites.

The police have reassured the public of their commitment to safety and vigilance in places of worship.

Investigations into Sunday’s case involving the 36-year-old man are ongoing.