A Singaporean Man Is Accused of Stabbing a Priest during Mass
A Singaporean guy, 37 years old, has been charged with stabbing a Catholic priest during a weekend masses.
In court on Monday, a Singaporean man named Basnayake Keith Spencer was charged with stabbing a Catholic priest during a weekend Mass. However, officials said there was no evidence to suggest that the attack was religious or terrorist-related.
Although Singapore is known for being safe, crime has recently been on the rise. According to police figures, there were over 10,000 crimes in the first half of 2024, which is a 4.1% rise from the previous year.
At St. Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah on Saturday evening, the 37-year-old is accused of stabbing parish priest Christopher Lee Kwong Heng, 57, with a foldable knife. Members of the congregation quickly took Spencer’s weapons away—he was said to be carrying a penknife and a mallet—and held him until the police came.
According to the Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs, “There is currently no evidence to suggest that it was a religiously motivated attack or an act of terror.” Spencer is accused of intentional grievous harm with a deadly weapon, which carries a possible life sentence, up to 15 years in jail, a fine, and the possibility of being caned. Motive is still unknown, but Spencer is said to have a past of drug use and violent crimes.
The priest, whose mouth was hurt, is feeling better in the hospital. The attack was criticized by religious leaders all over Singapore, which Pew Research says is religiously diverse. They also showed support for the Catholic community, which makes up about 7% of Singapore’s citizens and permanent residents. The event was a reminder for religious groups, according to Archbishop William Goh, to stay alert for any strange behavior.
Later, police raised patrols at places of worship, showing how important safety is as tensions rise. Another event happened last Friday: a man attacked a police officer with a homemade flamethrower in a park. After being restrained by police, the man was later charged with attempted murder. The authorities in Singapore are having a hard time finding the right mix between security and the country’s well-known public safety.
