Buangkok sword incident: Man, 37, to be charged with causing hurt using dangerous weapon

SINGAPORE — A man who was caught on video swinging a sword at several cars along Buangkok Crescent on Monday (March 14) will be charged on Wednesday for the alleged offence of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

In a news release late on Monday, the police said that they received multiple calls of a man swinging a sword in the middle of Buangkok Crescent and stopping the oncoming traffic at about 1.55pm that day.

The police added that they responded swiftly and arrested the 37-year-old man with the assistance of six members of the public.

Preliminary investigations found that the man had allegedly consumed some unknown pills before leaving his home with the sword.

The man then had a “brief altercation” with members of the public at the lift lobby of the public housing block where he lived.

“Subsequently, he jaywalked across the road and allegedly used his weapon to hit five passing cars. At the traffic junction in front of Buangkok Square Mall, he allegedly swung his weapon against another man.

“At this point, other members of the public came forward and assisted to restrain him until the police arrived and arrested him,” the police said.

They added that one male member of the public suffered two superficial slash wounds on his left arm and was taken to a hospital conscious and another man suffered abrasions on his left knee.

Following the 37-year-old man’s arrest, the police raided his residence and seized two packets of yellow pills.

The police stressed that preliminary investigations do not suggest the incident to be an act of terror.

They said that the man had previously been remanded in the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and was diagnosed with substance use disorder.

"The man is traced for multiple offences, including violence offences," the police added.

“(He) was last released from prison on July 30, 2020, after having served a sentence of nine months and two weeks for multiple offences, including violence offences and offences against public servants.” 

The police also commended six members of the public who had helped to restrain the armed man while waiting for the arrival of police officers to the scene.  

Assistant Commissioner of Police Zed Teo, Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, said: “We will be presenting them with the Public Spiritedness Award in recognition of their brave actions.”

Separately, a 33-year-old man will be charged on Wednesday with voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means after he allegedly used a razor blade that he had with him to attack some passers-by in Queenstown, injuring two people in the process.

The police stressed that so far, there is no indication that the incident — which happened at Block 59 Strathmore Avenue — is related to the incident at Buangkok Square Mall.

They added that that the 33-year-old man has past records with IMH.

Investigations into the case are ongoing.