Despite the incident, Father Chan proceeded to lead the next Mass at 11.30am. Parishioners told CNA that he remained composed and did not appear visibly affected.
“I felt like my head was throbbing at the 11.30am Mass, but I didn’t want parishioners to know,” he said.
A 17-year-old altar server present at the Mass said Father Chan did not mention the incident and “appeared ordinary … no different”.
A churchgoer, who gave his name as Mr Lee, said he arrived at the church around 11.20am and saw at least five police officers with the man. He recalled that the man was not handcuffed and was being led away by the officers.
Mr Lee confirmed that the man has special needs and “tends to be in his own world”. He is often alone in church and occasionally stands up during Mass or tries to join the choir.
“But he is harmless,” the 60-year-old parishioner added.
Another parishioner mentioned hearing that the man had been upset with his mother earlier in the morning and was “not in a good place to begin with”.
This incident comes just months after a separate attack at St Joseph's Church in Upper Bukit Timah, where a priest was stabbed in the mouth during a service. The man accused of the attack, 37-year-old Basnayake Keith Spencer, has been charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon.
After the incident in November, the police said they were stepping up patrols at places of worship.
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“I felt like my head was throbbing at the 11.30am Mass, but I didn’t want parishioners to know,” he said.
A 17-year-old altar server present at the Mass said Father Chan did not mention the incident and “appeared ordinary … no different”.
A churchgoer, who gave his name as Mr Lee, said he arrived at the church around 11.20am and saw at least five police officers with the man. He recalled that the man was not handcuffed and was being led away by the officers.
Mr Lee confirmed that the man has special needs and “tends to be in his own world”. He is often alone in church and occasionally stands up during Mass or tries to join the choir.
“But he is harmless,” the 60-year-old parishioner added.
Another parishioner mentioned hearing that the man had been upset with his mother earlier in the morning and was “not in a good place to begin with”.
This incident comes just months after a separate attack at St Joseph's Church in Upper Bukit Timah, where a priest was stabbed in the mouth during a service. The man accused of the attack, 37-year-old Basnayake Keith Spencer, has been charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon.
After the incident in November, the police said they were stepping up patrols at places of worship.
Continue reading...