SINGAPORE — The police have detained a 39-year-old man in connection with an unattended bag which sparked security fears and a brief shutdown of the Hougang MRT station on Sunday afternoon.
On inspection, the bag was not found to contain anything dangerous, the police said.
The station was given the all-clear and reopened to commuters around 4pm.
Shortly after the station was reopened, police were seen escorting away a man in a singlet. He is believed to be the bag’s owner, and is assisting the police in their investigation of the incident.
According to SBS Transit, which operates the North-East line, an unattended luggage bag was discovered on the boarding platform of the Hougang station at about 2.40pm.
Shortly after, commuters were alerted to a “security incident” and told that all NEL trains would not stop at Hougang station.
NEL trains skipping Hougang MRT due to ‘security incident’; ambulance, four police vehicles seen outside station https://t.co/IZvLDTfRpE pic.twitter.com/9ooJoqhoHO
— TODAY (@TODAYonline) April 2, 2017
“For the safety of all passengers, trains were made to bypass Hougang station and the Police were alerted,” the transport operator said in a statement.
The station was briefly shuttered as police conducted checks. Commuters, who were told to take alternative transport, milled around the entrances to the station despite the police’s advice to avoid the area.
“At close to 4.00pm, the bag was opened and its contents found to be non-dangerous,” said SBS Transit. “Train service resumed at 4.03pm at Hougang Station.”
Hougang MRT Incident: the shutters come down, with station staff telling commuters that “the station is unsafe” pic.twitter.com/uPQ6MyAZxU
— Alfred Chua (@alfredTODAY) April 2, 2017
SECURITY INCIDENT AT HOUGANG MRT: The station appears to have been vacated, with no passenger sighted pic.twitter.com/J2QIuLMNFw
— TODAY (@TODAYonline) April 2, 2017
