Suspicious item at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah found to be harmless: Police
The public are still advised to avoid the church location until further notice.
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SINGAPORE: A suspicious item earlier found at St Joseph's Church in Bukit Timah on Sunday (Dec 21) morning has been found to be harmless, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
"The police and the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Chemical Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group have conducted thorough checks on the suspicious item and found it to be harmless," SPF said in a statement at around 11.10am.
"The situation is under control and police operations are still ongoing. Members of the public are advised to avoid the location until further notice."
Police first said they first received a call for assistance at 620 Upper Bukit Timah Road at about 7.10am. The area was then secured and the church was evacuated amid police operations.
The SAF's Chemical Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group was later called in to assist with operations.
In a separate statement on Facebook, St Joseph’s Church said it was temporarily closed and advised churchgoers to go to other churches for Sunday mass.
A notice on the church website also stated that all mass services planned for Sunday had been cancelled until further notice.
SUNDAY MASS CANCELLED
When CNA arrived at the scene shortly after 10am, police vehicles and an Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) vehicle could be seen parked inside the church compound.
Police officers and church wardens were stationed at the entrance to direct members of the public away.
An elderly couple, who are regular churchgoers, were waiting at the entrance.
The woman, who declined to be named, told CNA they were waiting to retrieve their car parked within the compound.
The couple had arrived after 6am to attend mass at 7.30am but were asked to evacuate before the service began.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan was seen driving into the church compound at 10.47am. He is the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP for the ward where St Joseph’s Church is located.
At about 10.50am, three police officers appeared to be searching the grassy perimeter of the church compound and a large drain running alongside it.
An explosive ordnance disposal vehicle, accompanied by another car, was then seen driving out of the church around 11am. Dr Balakrishnan left about 20 minutes later, without speaking to media.
Mr Oliver Esquierdo, 54, and his family were at the church to attend the 11.30am mass service as they usually do.
They were turned away as the public were still not allowed to enter.
The family of four have been regulars at the church since 2009.
They said this was the first time they had experienced the church being closed because of a suspicious object.
"I'm not scared, I’m surprised only," said Mr Esquierdo, adding that the congregation has been good and welcoming.
In November last year, a priest at the same church was stabbed during mass. A 37-year-old man was subsequently charged with stabbing Catholic priest Christopher Lee in the mouth.
In another incident a month later, a man was found with a folding knife at the same church, with police then saying the suspect was assisting with investigations.
Additional reporting by Davina Tham.
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