2 men, 1 woman arrested after spraying substances at Catholic Centre, Bible House believed to be mix of ash, salt and oil

SINGAPORE — Two men and a woman have been arrested after white substances were found at Catholic Centre and Bible House last week, the police said, adding that the substances are believed to be ash from burnt newspapers, table salt and vegetable oil.

Staff members of Catholic Centre previously told TODAY that at 2am early last Tuesday (Jan 17), two cars approached Catholic Centre on Waterloo Street and a group of people alighted and started spraying an unidentified liquid and scattering a white substance around the building. 

The incident at Catholic Centre was reported a day after a police report was made on Tuesday by Bible House, another religious centre.

Through extensive ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras and other closed circuit television cameras, two men and nine women, aged between 49 and 67, were identified and are assisting in investigations, the police said in a statement on Monday (Jan 23).

Of this group, two men, aged 52 and 66, and a 63-year-old woman have been arrested, they added.

The police did not disclose the nationality or ethnicity of those arrested.

Substances believed to be ash from burnt newspapers, table salt and vegetable oil, purportedly used during the incidents, have been seized from the 52-year-old man, they added.

Police investigations into an offence of public nuisance are ongoing.