Indian-Origin Individual Detained for Fake Bomb Incident at Singapore Church

A 26-year-old man, of Indian origin, has been apprehended in Singapore for placing a counterfeit bomb at St Joseph's Church, leading to widespread panic and the cancellation of services throughout the day.

The event transpired early on Sunday at St Joseph’s Church, located in the Upper Bukit Timah area, a well-regarded residential neighborhood. The suspect has been identified as Kokulananthan Mohan.

According to police, the alarming object was discovered inside the church at approximately 7:11 a.m. Following this discovery, church officials promptly halted all services to ensure the safety of attendees.

Police charge documents indicate that the man placed three cardboard tubes within the church. These tubes contained small stone pebbles and had red wires protruding from them, tightly bound with black and yellow tape. The assembly resembled a genuine explosive device.

Investigators revealed that the fraudulent bomb was designed to instill fear and create the illusion of an explosive threat. Authorities confirmed the item was non-functional and posed no actual risk.

The Singapore Police noted preliminary investigations suggest the individual acted independently and indicated there were no connections to religious motivations or terrorism.

Post-arrest, Kokulananthan appeared in court on Monday, where the judge mandated a three-week observation period for mental health assessment, with a subsequent court date set for January 12.

During proceedings, the suspect explained his unusual behavior stemmed from sleep deprivation due to his night job. The presiding judge advised him to discuss this with the evaluating doctors.

If convicted, the individual may face severe penalties, including a prison sentence of up to 10 years, substantial fines, or both, in accordance with Singapore law.

The incident surrounding the fake bomb at the church raised significant safety alarms among congregants. Police have reiterated that such false threats can lead to immense panic and will be treated as grave offenses.