SINGAPORE — A 58-year-old man was arrested after a more than two-hour standoff at a Jurong East flat on Tuesday night (Oct. 6), with police later finding a knuckle duster inside the unit.
The incident began at about 8.25pm at Block 240B Jurong East Avenue 1, when police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were called to the residential block.
Police said the man had locked himself inside his flat and was assessed to potentially pose a danger to himself. Officers from the Special Operations Command and Crisis Negotiation Unit were deployed alongside SCDF personnel.
Emergency teams deployed at Jurong East block
The incident prompted a significant emergency response at the HDB block.
As a precaution, SCDF set up a safety life air pack at the foot of the building, while personnel from its Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) stood by.
The equipment is used as a safety measure during operations where there may be a risk of someone falling from height.
Images from the scene showed police officers stationed along the corridor outside the flat while emergency responders prepared for a possible rescue operation.
The standoff continued for more than two hours as officers worked to gain access to the unit.
Police enter flat at about 10.30pm
Police eventually managed to enter the flat at around 10.30pm, more than two hours after they first arrived.
The man was arrested following the operation.
A knuckle duster was found inside the flat, police said.
Authorities said the man was arrested for suspected offences involving scheduled weapons and drugs. The suspected drug-related offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for further investigation.
The discovery of the weapon means the incident is now being investigated beyond the initial emergency response.
Drug-related investigation ongoing
The man has been referred to the CNB over suspected drug-related offences.
Police have not publicly disclosed what drugs, if any, were allegedly found in the flat or provided further details about the suspected offences.
At this stage, the man’s arrest and referral for investigation do not establish that he has committed the alleged offences. Investigations are continuing.
Singapore law regulates the possession of scheduled weapons, and authorities have previously warned that prohibited or controlled weapons can result in criminal prosecution.
Residents see major police operation
The incident drew attention from residents as emergency vehicles and officers gathered around the block.
The deployment of the Special Operations Command and Crisis Negotiation Unit indicates that police treated the situation as one requiring a specialised response rather than attempting an immediate forced entry.
The SCDF’s preparations also allowed rescuers to respond quickly if the situation deteriorated or the man attempted to leave the unit through a window or from a height.
Police ultimately gained entry without publicly reporting injuries arising from the standoff.
Investigations continue
The police have not disclosed what led the man to lock himself inside the flat or whether he made any specific threats while officers were outside.
Authorities have also not released further information about his medical condition or whether anyone else was inside the unit.
The immediate standoff ended when officers entered the flat and arrested him at about 10.30pm.
The subsequent discovery of a knuckle duster and the suspected drug-related offences means investigations will now focus on the circumstances surrounding the weapon and any suspected controlled substances.
For now, police investigations remain ongoing, and further details may emerge as authorities determine what offences, if any, will be pursued against the man.
