67-Year-Old Man Injured in Apparent Self-Harm Incident at Sun Plaza: Police Investigate
A 67-year-old man was found lying unconscious on the first floor of a shopping mall, with stab wounds believed to be self-inflicted.
The distressing incident occurred on Monday, 15 January 2024, around 2:05PM at Sun Plaza, a shopping mall in Sembawang, near McDonald’s and the food kiosk Stuff’d, prompting a swift police response.
Photos circulated on social media after the incident depict the shirtless man lying on the floor covered in blood, surrounded by police officers and onlookers.
According to eye-witnesses, the man had been sitting on the floor at Sun Plaza mall in Sembawang clad in nothing but shorts at around 1:40PM.
A pastry chef at the scene said that he was holding an approximately 15CM-long knife in his right hand. To her horror, the man began stabbing himself two to three times in the chest, all with a calm expression on his face.
The chef also mentioned that he had been muttering something under his breath, but she could not hear what he was saying. The man fell to the ground soon after and the knife slipped from his grasp.
A male passer-by then stepped forward to kick the knife away.
When talking to Lianhe Zaobao, a manager at McDonald’s claimed that the man made no verbal indications before inflicting harm upon himself.
The manager attempted to seek help from mall security but returned to find the police already at the scene.
The injured man was quickly attended to by officers and subsequently transported to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Sources indicate that the man is now receiving medical treatment.
Police Investigations Ongoing
To prevent passers-by and onlookers from interfering with investigations, cordon tape had been set up across the site of the incident, and one of the mall’s exits could not be in use until 4PM.
Spokespersons from the Singapore Police Force have confirmed that the 67-year-old’s injuries are believed to be self-inflicted, raising concerns about the mental well-being of the individual.
As of the morning of 16 January 2024, investigations are ongoing to uncover the motives and events leading up to the incident.
The incident has undoubtedly led to heightened vigilance regarding public safety and security at public spaces in Singapore, and highlights the need for increased awareness and support for mental health issues within the community.
As knife-related incidents and injuries continue over the new year, we are once again reminded of the importance of mental health awareness and the need for supportive communities to address such challenging circumstances.
If you are, or anyone you know is, in need of assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to the helplines provided below:
- Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
- Institute of Mental Health’s Helpline: 6389 2222
- Singapore Association for Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019