SINGAPORE – It was a night of long drawn-out drama for the residents at Block 508, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 on Mar 31.
A man on the eighth floor had locked himself and his mother in their flat, prompting a major police operation and a 13-hour stand-off.
According to Shin Min Daily News, the man had refused to open his door to some Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers when they knocked on the door at around 9pm on Thursday night.
He reportedly threatened to kill himself and his mother, who is in her 70s, and at one point, also released gas from gas canisters placed near his front door.
The New Paper, Lianhe Wanbao, The Straits Times
Elite police units Star and Special Operations Command were then activated, and an inflatable safety life air pack was set up at the foot of the block, The Straits Times reported.
Residents were also evacuated, and while most were cleared to return to their homes before midnight, those living on the floor above and below had to wait till the stand-off was over.
Some residents told Shin Min that they could hear officers telling the man to let his mother out of the house, but there was no reply from him.
At 10am on Friday, officers broke into the unit and arrested the man.
The Chinese daily reported that three knives, two gas canisters, and newspapers were recovered in the flat.
When the man was arrested, blood could be seen streaming down his left leg. He appeared angry and was also heard cussing at photographers from the Chinese paper.
ljessica@sph.com.sg
