Lunchtime crowd stunned by stabbing in heart of CBD

Lunchtime crowd stunned by stabbing in heart of CBD

Student Shermine Lee was watching the lunchtime crowd outside One Raffles Place yesterday afternoon when she heard screams just behind her.

"I turned around and saw two men struggling over this black bag," said the secondary school student. "I was shocked but I didn't know what to do."

The 14-year-old was among the bustling crowd in the heart of the city's financial district who witnessed a violent stabbing outside the entrance of Raffles Place MRT station.

Like her, many were stunned for a moment. But they soon regained their senses, whipped out their phones and started filming the altercation. Soon, videos and images were online.

About five or six other valiant bystanders responded by pinning the attacker to the ground, rendering first aid to the victim and calling the authorities.

Banker Wilfred Lim was crossing the road when he saw the crowd that had gathered around the two men, who were already on the grass.

It is unclear how the men were connected.

"A few kind souls were trying to help the victim, and some brave guys were pinning the attacker down," said the 29-year- old, adding that the sight of bloody streets in Raffles Place was "shocking".

Netizens praised the quick actions of the good Samaritans who held down the attacker until the police arrived.

Witnesses said the rescuers included both locals and foreigners.

When The Straits Times visited the Singapore General Hospital accident and emergency department, the victim and his family members were nowhere in sight.

But at around 5.30pm, the suspect was seen being wheeled from the department to a ward, accompanied by eight uniformed police officers. The victim's condition is unknown.

dansonc@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Amir Hussain


This article was first published on Nov 15, 2014.
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