SINGAPORE: Members of the public have been advised to avoid St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah after a suspicious item was found, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Sunday (Dec 21) morning.
“The police are attending to a case of suspicious item at St Joseph’s Church located at 620 Upper Bukit Timah Road,” SPF said in a statement on Facebook, adding that they first received a call for assistance at about 7.10am.
“The police have secured the area and the church has been evacuated while police operations are ongoing. Members of the public are advised to avoid the location and its vicinity and comply with officers’ instructions.”
“The Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Chemical Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group has been activated to support operations,” police said in an update at around 10.10am.
In a statement on Facebook, St Joseph’s Church said it was temporarily closed and advised churchgoers to go to other churches for Sunday mass.
A notice on the church website also stated that all mass services planned for Sunday had been cancelled until further notice.
When CNA arrived at the scene past 10am, police vehicles and an Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) vehicle could be seen parked inside the church compound.
Police officers and church wardens were stationed at the entrance to direct members of the public away.
An elderly couple, who are regular churchgoers, were waiting at the entrance.
The woman, who declined to be named, told CNA they were waiting to retrieve their car parked within the compound.
The couple had arrived after 6am to attend mass at 7.30am but were asked to evacuate before the service began.
Additional reporting by Davina Tham.