15-9-2023 (SINGAPORE) In a horrifying incident, two 20-year-old men were found injured after a brutal attack by a group of six assailants wielding parang knives at a coffee shop along Ang Mo Kio Ave 3. The incident occurred in the early hours of September 14, 2023, as reported by Shin Min Daily News.
The Singapore Police Force swiftly apprehended the six suspects, whose ages range between 22 and 34, on suspicion of participating in an armed rioting case. This development was announced in a police news release issued on September 15.
The Attack: According to Zhang (surname transliterated from Mandarin), the kopitiam’s forewoman who spoke to Shin Min, the incident unfolded when a group comprising three men and one woman, all appearing to be in their 20s and regular patrons, were engaged in conversation at a corner of the coffee shop.
Subsequently, the three men moved to a designated smoking area within the coffee shop, leaving the woman behind to focus on her writing.
Two of the men decided to use the restroom. It was at this moment that a man dressed in a white shirt exited the restroom and was viciously attacked by six men armed with parang knives who stormed into the coffee shop.
In Zhang’s account, the man in white managed to escape his attackers, eventually returning to the coffee stall at the kopitiam to request water and clean his wounds in the restroom.
She further stated, “After coming out from the toilet, he sat in a chair. Later on, he just sat on the floor.”
Diners Unfazed by the Altercation: CCTV footage viewed by Shin Min revealed that the intense brawl resulted in tables and chairs being overturned within the coffee shop. However, it appeared that the seven or eight patrons present during the incident remained remarkably composed.
Some diners continued to consume their meals, while others simply relocated to different tables, drinks in hand.
Police Statement: The police news release confirmed that they received a report of a violent confrontation involving weapons at the aforementioned location on Thursday at approximately 3:55 am. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered two injured men, both of whom were transported to the hospital while still conscious.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the victims were acquainted with their assailants and were purportedly targeted due to a dispute. With the assistance of CCTV and police camera images, authorities from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division identified and subsequently arrested the other six individuals involved.
A 31-year-old man was charged in court on Friday, remanded for further investigations regarding the offense of rioting while armed with a deadly weapon. The remaining five suspects, aged between 22 and 34, are scheduled to face similar charges on September 16.
The police’s investigative efforts are ongoing, and should the suspects be convicted, they may face imprisonment for up to 10 years, in addition to caning as a possible penalty.
