Man arrested after leaving luggage bag unattended at Admiralty MRT Station

SINGAPORE — A 34-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday (June 7) after he left a luggage bag unattended at Admiralty MRT Station, at least the fourth such incident in the last two months.

The police were alerted at 8.45am to the unattended bag at the bicycle bay beside Admiralty MRT Station.

With help from SMRT staff, the police managed to quickly track down the owner of the luggage bag at the train station. He was arrested on the spot, the police said in a statement.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he decided to leave the bag unattended while he made a purchase at a convenience store. TODAY understands the owner of the bag is a Bangladeshi national.

Personal effects such as clothing, toiletries and medication were found in his bag. Police investigations are still ongoing.

In May, two men were arrested after they left three bags unattended at Aljunied MRT station. The three bags contained only food and household items.

In April, there were two similar false alarms. The first involved Wang Jianpo, a Chinese national, who left a blue luggage bag unattended at Hougang MRT station, causing a brief shutdown of the station. He was charged on Wednesday (May 17) with causing public nuisance.

The second incident in April involved a suspicious substance found at Woodleigh MRT station, which was later found to be flour used by a running group to mark a route.

The police said in its latest statement that it treats all security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against anyone who intentionally causes public alarm.

They reminded the public not to leave personal belongings unattended and to report any suspicious items or behaviour to the MRT staff or the police immediately.