Man shot dead, two detained in incident near Shangri-La hotel this morning
The car involved in the police incident near Shangri-La hotel this morning, before it was towed away by authorities. (May 31). Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY
SINGAPORE — A 34-year-old man was shot dead and two others, aged 26 and 31, were detained following an incident near Shangri-La hotel, where check points have been put in place with the ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue, at 4.36am this morning (May 31), police said in a statement.
2.10am, June 1 UPDATE: The driver shot dead is Mohamed Taufik Bin Zahar, 34, who was wanted for failing to attend court for an offence of criminal intimidation and has drug related antecedents as well as other criminal records. The Special Investigation Section of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is investigating the man's death as part of the Coroner's Inquiry process.
The two arrested are Mohamed bin Ismail, 31, and Muhammad Syahid bin Mohamed Yasin, 26, both with drug related antecedents and criminal records. Mohamed bin Ismail, who was also wanted for failing to stop at a roadblock, sustained injuries during the incident and was conveyed to hospital conscious. The two men are being investigated by Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for drug-related offences and will be charged on 1 June 2015 for a drug trafficking offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
All three men are Singaporean. Investigations are still ongoing.
"All shooting cases are treated seriously and will be thoroughly investigated by the Police," the Police said in a statement released at 2am.
"Preliminary investigations indicate that this is an isolated incident and is not terrorism related."
11.45am, May 31 UPDATE: A bag containing white powdery substances believed to contain controlled drugs was recovered in the Singapore-registered red Subaru Impreza, by police and officers from SAF’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Explosives (CBRE) Defence Group.
An item believed to be a drug-taking utensil was also found on the men arrested. No explosives, arms or weapons were found in the vehicle, police said.
The 34-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene after police opened fire. Of the two other men, the 31-year-old sustained injuries during the incident and was conveyed to hospital conscious. The driver and one of the passengers are wanted by the authorities for various offences, police added.
The trio had been stopped at a police vehicular checkpoint along Ardmore Park this morning. With the ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue, vehicle and person check points have been put in place in the surrounding area of the Shangri-La hotel.
But when asked to open the car boot for checks, the driver suddenly accelerated the car towards Anderson Road, police said. The driver continued to crash through police barricades despite warnings to stop, endangering the lives of officers. Police then opened fire at the car to stop further danger.
A Shangri La hotel housekeeping officer who declined to be named said he heard a loud blast "sounding like a tyre bursting" at around 4.20am this morning. He said: "I saw Gurkhas running around and they asked me to stay inside because it's not safe." He added that he was only told that it was a gunshot at 5.15am by security officers.
Residents in the vicinity generally appear undisturbed by the incident. Mr Ian Martin, who lives at Orange Grove Residences said security at his development was tightened in the days leading to the Shangri-La Dialogue.
"They locked up all the (entrances to the) rooftops on Friday and gave out leaflets on the big event at the hotel...things like this happen, everything is cool for me," said the employment pass holder who has lived here for 10 years.
Another couple who lives at Shangri-La Residences said they feel it is still very safe, while a couple staying at the hotel said they did not hear anything and only found out what happened when they walked out at 11am.
Preliminary investigations indicate that this is an isolated incident, and police added that investigations are ongoing.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean, who was attending the Dialogue said that police had kept him informed of the situation, "which they have brought swiftly under control".
He said: "The investigations so far indicate that the situation is related to drugs. The police will deal firmly according to the law with anyone who breaks the law, to make sure they maintain public safety and security.”
Meanwhile, the show goes on with the Fourth Plenary Session in Island Ballroom, according to Shangri-La hotel's instagram account.
Members of the public are advised by the police to stay away from the area.
