SINGAPORE \u2013 A 26-year-old Singaporean man is set to be charged on Dec 22 with making a false threat of terrorist act following <\/p>\n an incident at St Joseph\u2019s Church involving a suspicious item<\/p>\n <\/a> found at its premises. <\/p>\n The police had arrested the man, who is a church volunteer, under anti-terrorism laws on Dec 21 for his suspected involvement in the incident.<\/p>\n In a statement on Dec 22, the police said preliminary investigations suggest that the man had allegedly staged the incident by placing a self-fabricated item which resembled an improvised explosive device within the church premises.<\/p>\n He is believed to have acted alone, the police said, adding that there is currently no evidence to suggest that it was a religiously motivated attack or an act of terror.<\/p>\n He is expected to be charged in court on Dec 22 under Regulation 8(2)(a) of the United Nations (Anti-terrorism Measures) Regulations.<\/p>\n The police said an application will be made for the man to be remanded for psychiatric evaluation.<\/p>\n If found guilty, he can be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both.<\/p>\n Mass services at the church at 620 Upper Bukit Timah Road were cancelled on Dec 21 after the police were alerted to the incident at about 7.10am.<\/p>\n A churchgoer had said that the incident happened before the Chinese-language mass at 7.30am.<\/p>\n The church premises were evacuated and the Singapore Armed Forces\u2019 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group was activated.<\/p>\n The police later said the item resembled an improvised explosive device but was actually harmless. <\/p>\n The suspicious item \u2013 three cardboard rolls and wires stuck together with black tape \u2013 was removed from the scene and police operations concluded at about 5pm.<\/p>\n The police later said the item resembled an improvised explosive device but was actually harmless.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Members of the public are reminded to always stay vigilant, the police said in their Dec 22 statement.<\/p>\n Anyone with information on suspicious persons or activities can call the police on 999, send an SMS to 70999, submit information via <\/p>\n www.police.gov.sg\/i-witness<\/p>\n <\/a>, or through the SGSecure app.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Ian Cheng<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>
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