Under The Angsana Tree: MRT Shutdowns due to Flour Scare & Unattended Bag

Woodleigh MRT station closed for 3 hours after white substance found on premises

Officers from SCDF’s hazmat team collected at least 7 vials of samples at Woodleigh station. TNP FOTO: GAVIN FOO

Just over 2 weeks after Hougang MRT Station was closed for security checks related to an unattended bag, a similar incident occurred at Woodleigh Station yesterday.

Woodleigh, which is the 3rd stop from Hougang on the North East Line, was closed for about 3 hours from 1.25pm as a precaution after a cleaner found suspicious white substance on the premises.

The police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) hazardous materials (hazmat) team later determined the white substance to be flour.

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Runners' half-baked flour trail shuts Singapore metro

A running club today admitted leaving a trail of flour in a Singapore metro station which prompted a security scare and a three-hour shutdown of the station.

In a statement the Seletar Hash House Harriers, an all- male group that describes itself as a "drinking group with a running problem", apologised for the "alarm and inconvenience" caused to the public. Three members had sprinkled flour at several points in the underground Woodleigh MRT station, the statement said, adding that it was the safest way to cross a busy road in the suburban Serangoon district.

But the sight of white powder sparked security fears, which saw police and hazardous materials units respond.

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Baking flour that sparked alarm at Woodleigh MRT turns out to be trail marking for running social club

The culprit allegedly behind the public alarm at Woodleigh MRT station yesterday has been nabbed by the cops — and apparently all the fuss was due to a running social club that simply wanted to mark a trail for its race route.

A 69-year-old man was arrested for the offence of Public Nuisance after he left a suspicious white substance (which turned out to be baking flour) at the MRT station concourse. Two other men, aged 53 and 70 — who were with the man when he sprinkled the flour — are also assisting the police with investigations.

Woodleigh MRT station was shut down for about three hours yesterday afternoon after a cleaner found the dubious white substance scattered across the premises.

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A 69-YEAR-OLD MAN ARRESTED FOR CAUSING PUBLIC ALARM AFTER LEAVING WHITE SUBSTANCE AT MRT STATION

The Police have arrested a 69-year-old man for an offence of Public Nuisance under the Penal Code after he left suspicious white substance at Woodleigh MRT station, triggering a temporary closure of the MRT station for about 3 hours.

On 18 April 2017 at about 1.00pm, the Police were alerted to a case of suspicious white substance found at Woodleigh MRT station. Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) HazMat officers subsequently established the substance to be baking flour. Police investigations are ongoing.

The Police treat all security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against anyone who cause public alarm. The Police would also like to remind the public to report any suspicious items or behaviour to the transport authorities or the Police immediately.

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Police arrests a 69-year old man for dropping flour at a Singapore MRT station

When it comes to public safety, you can never be too careful. So, when the Singapore Police Force (SPF) found a mysterious-looking substance on the Woodleigh MRT Station floor, they immediately shut down the station’s operations until further investigation can be done.

Last April 18, an unidentified powdery substance was found on the floor by the station’s cleaner. He reported it to his manager, who sought help from the SPF.

The police arrested a 69-year old man suspected of dropping the substance, and closed the station for three hours to study the situation.

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Seletar Hash House Harriers: Press Release

The Seletar Hash House Harriers sincerely apologise to the public and the authorities for the alarm and inconvenience caused by Tuesday’s incident at Woodleigh MRT station.

On Tuesday April 18 afternoon three of our members were laying a trail near the Woodleigh station for a run by our members planned for Tue evening. They chose to use the MRT underpass for our members to go from Bidadari towards Woodleigh Close as this provided the safest route to cross Upper Serangoon Road.

Hash running trails in Singapore are typically set with flour, chalk or tissue paper, depending on the area in which the run is set. In built-up areas, paper is used sparingly and the policy of hash clubs is to always remove the paper after each run and avoid littering.

All trains on the North-East Line had to skip the Hougang station due to what was called a 'security incident' from about 3:00pm

Police have arrested a 39-year old man for leaving a bag unattended at Hougang MRT station, causing the station to be briefly shut down on Sunday (2nd April). The police issued a statement later at night, "The police have arrested a 39-year old man for an offence of Public Nuisance under the Penal Code after he had left a bag unattended at Hougang MRT station, triggering a temporary closure of the MRT station.

"On 2nd April 2017 at 2:45pm, the police were alerted to a case of an unattended bag at the train platform of Hougang MRT station. The bag was later established to contain only household items. Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division and Public Transport Security Command, with the assistance of SBS Transit, quickly traced the owner of the bag and he was arrested at Hougang MRT at about 4:35pm.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had intentionally left his bag inside Hougang MRT station while he ran an errand. Police investigations are still ongoing." The incident first unfolded when a bag was found at about 2:40pm on the boarding platform of the station, SBS Transit said. Police later said it was attending to a case of an 'unattended bag'. "Members of the public are advised to avoid the area," it added on Facebook.

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Man arrested after unattended bag sparks brief shutdown of Hougang MRT station

(Left) Bag that was left unattended. (Right) Police seen escorting a man in a singlet at Hougang MRT who is believed to be behind the unattended bag. Fotos: Rubin Aw, Nuria Ling/TODAY

The police have arrested a 39-yr-old man for leaving an unattended bag at Hougang MRT station that sparked security fears and a brief shutdown of the station on Sunday afternoon (Apr 2).

On inspection, the bag was found to contain only household items, the police said in a statement. The station was given the all-clear & reopened to commuters around 4pm.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had intentionally left his bag inside the Hougang MRT station while he ran an errand," the police added.

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Man Arrested Within 2 Hours For Causing Public Alarm After Leaving Bag Unattended At Mrt Station

Singapore Police Force Facebook

The Police have arrested a 39-year-old man for an offence of Public Nuisance under the Penal Code after he had left a bag unattended at Hougang MRT station, triggering a temporary closure of the MRT station.

On 2 April 2017 at 2.45pm, the Police were alerted to a case of an unattended bag at the train platform of Hougang MRT station. The bag was later established to contain only household items.

Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division and Public Transport Security Command, with the assistance of SBS Transit, quickly traced the owner of the bag and he was arrested at Hougang MRT at about 4.35 pm. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had intentionally left his bag inside Hougang MRT station while he ran an errand. Police investigations are still ongoing.

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Keeping trains and buses secure

Public Transport Security Command (Transcom) officer, Staff Sergeant Nasron Nasir (second from right), talking to another TransCom officer about a plastic bag apparently left behind by a train commuter. Beside him is Special Constabulary Corporal (Cpl) Muhammad Ruzaini (third from right)

Even after 10 years of experience in dealing with security incidents in Singapore’s public transport system, police Staff Sergeant (SSG) Nasron Nasir had his nerves rattled when he was tasked to respond to a 999 call on April 2.

The 35-year-old had to rush to Hougang MRT station after an unattended bag was found on the platform, resulting in operator SBS Transit ordering a temporary closure and trains to bypass the stop.

Together with Special Constabulary Corporal (Cpl) Muhammad Ruzaini, 22, they were the first Public Transport Security Command (TransCom) officers to arrive at the MRT station.

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MRT Scare measures

An unattended piece of luggage sparked a temporary shutdown of Hougang MRT station on Sunday (Apr 2). A 39-year-old man was subsequently arrested for causing public nuisance after preliminary investigations show he intentionally left the bag inside the station while running an errand.

SBS Transit announced that all trains on the North-East Line were skipping Hougang MRT station due to a "security incident" in a tweet at 2.55pm. No other details were provided.

Channel NewsAsia understands the man is a construction worker from China. It is believed that he stays at a dorm in Punggol.

05/05/2017

MRT Shutdowns due to Flour Scare & Unattended Bag