The country is no longer the safest! Splitting Pastor Rocks Church Singapore

SINGAPORE – Man Singapore who was arrested for stabbing a priest at a church in Bukit Timah on Saturday (9/11/2024) has been identified as Basnayake Keith Spencer. This is proof that Singapore is no longer the safest country in the world.

“Basnayake, 37, was previously seen at St Joseph’s Church in Upper Bukit Timah, but was not a regular visitor,” the parish told The Straits Times.

A video circulated online after the attack on 57-year-old Pastor Christopher Lee on November 9 showed a thin, bald man in a blood-stained white T-shirt being led away from the church with his hands behind his back.

The Straits Times found that Basnayake was the man in the video. He was convicted and jailed in 2019 for wounding with a dangerous weapon, after pleading guilty to stabbing his girlfriend at a party while she was on drugs.

Before morning mass on November 10, at least three members of the church’s parish emergency response task force were seen patrolling the church building. They did bag checks on several church members.

At the mass, parishioners were informed of Father Lee’s condition. The church said that the parish priest’s surgery went well, and that he was resting.

The church also posted an update on Facebook that Pastor Lee was in stable condition, and she remained in the hospital until doctors could monitor him.

Police said at a press conference on Sunday (10/11/2024) that a total of five weapons were found in the attacker’s possession, including the folding knife used in the attack. The attack happened at the church’s monthly children’s mass, when Holy Communion is given.

Church members told ST on November 10 that they were still shocked that an attack had taken place in their church.

Ms. Rosalin Kolandasamy, 69, said that she learned about the stabbing minutes after the incident, from a friend who was present at mass on November 9.