\n<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE \u2013 A 26-year-old man was arrested on Dec 21 after a suspicious item was found in St Joseph\u2019s Church in Bukit Timah earlier that day at about 7am.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Facebook at about 5.20pm, the police said the man, who is a volunteer with the church, had said he had discovered a suspicious item in a drain within the church premises. <\/p>\n
\u201cThereafter, he immobilised himself and held on to the suspicious item,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
Officers evacuated the premises and the Singapore Armed Forces\u2019 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group was activated. <\/p>\n
Following thorough checks, the item, which resembled an improvised explosive device, was assessed at about 10.40am to be three cardboard rolls and wires taped with black tape with no explosive elements present, police said.<\/p>\n
It was subsequently removed from the scene and police operations concluded at about 5pm. No injuries were reported.<\/p>\n
The man was later arrested under anti-terrorism laws for his suspected involvement in the incident.<\/p>\n