SINGAPORE — The police have arrested a 69-year-old man on Tuesday (April 18) for triggering a security scare at Woodleigh MRT station by leaving behind some “suspicious white substance” that turned out to be baking flour. Two other men, aged 53 and 70, are also currently assisting with police investigations.
The baking flour was used to mark a trail for their running route, the police said in a statement.
TODAY understands that the three men, all Singaporeans, are part of a running group called the Seletar Hash House Harriers. A total of four locations at the station’s concourse level were marked with the baking flour.
Tuesday’s incident, the second such false alarm this month following an earlier scare at Hougang MRT station involving an unattended bag, caused the Woodleigh station to be shut for nearly three hours as the authorities launched investigations.
Officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s hazardous materials (hazmat) team eventually established that the suspicious substance was merely baking flour.
“The Police treat all security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against anyone who cause public alarm,” the police said in a statement. It gave no details about the suspect’s motivations, and added that investigations are ongoing.
A 58-year-old cleaner on the morning shift at Woodleigh station told TODAY in Mandarin that she spotted some white powdered substance near a pillar at the station as she was about to leave for lunch. The cleaner, who did not want to be named because she is not authorised to speak to the media, said she informed the station manager about her discovery as she did not recall seeing the substance when sweeping the floor at about 7am.
The police said they were alerted at 1pm. At 1.49pm, transport operator SBS Transit said the station on the North East Line was closed as a result of a “security incident”.
NE11 Woodleigh Stn is closed due to a security incident. Free bus rides are available at bus stops btwn Serangoon & Potong Pasir Stns
— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) April 18, 2017
The Police are attending to an incident at Woodleigh MRT station. Please avoid area. Updates will be provided when available.
— SingaporePoliceForce (@SingaporePolice) April 18, 2017
Members of the public are advised not to speculate on the case of suspicious substance found at Woodleigh MRT Station. Updates will follow.
— SingaporePoliceForce (@SingaporePolice) April 18, 2017
Dozens of officers from the SCDF’s hazmat team and the police were on scene to investigate the matter. The authorities gave the all-clear for the station to reopen at 4.20pm.
Speaking at Woodleigh MRT Station shortly after the station reopened, Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir SMC Sitoh Yih Pin said: “Much as we always hope that nothing will happen, we must always be prepared in case anything happens.”
“Thankfully, the station is opened (before the peak hour). So our residents won’t be too inconvenienced,” Mr Sitoh added.
This is the second security incident reported at a MRT station this month. On April 2, a 39-year-old man who left an unattended bag at Hougang MRT station sparked security fears and a brief shutdown of the station.
He was arrested and subsequently released on police bail while investigations continued. The man, who has not been identified, reportedly left his luggage bag unattended and went off to run an errand. The police found only household items in the bag.
