You would have heard about how the terror threat in Singapore is at its highest level since 2001, but then again you'd probably not expect to hear something like this happening in our heartlands.

According to Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao, a "mysterious character" fired a sparkler rocket from 50 metres away in the direction of Kebun Baru Food Centre, which is located at 226H Ang Mo Kio Street 22, at about 4.3opm on Sept. 26.

Based on eyewitnesses' accounts, the incident happened while the hawkers were getting ready for the dinner crowd.

One witness, a fruit stall owner, was in front of his shop when he heard a zipping sound cutting through the air, and the next thing he knew, a ball of fire came hurtling towards him. The sparkler then landed on the ground and slid towards his stall.

Panicking as he did not know whether the rocket would explode, he reached for a metal hook and flung it off below a nearby table, where it continued to burn up to a metre's height for half a minute before two people doused the flames using the food centre's fire extinguishers.

According to witnesses interviewed by the paper, the sparkler rocket is similar but bigger than the average sparklers that children would be seen playing with in the past, it flew across with great momentum and emanated thick smoke.

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Thankfully,  no one was injured.

The motivation behind the firing of the sparkler rocket is unknown. The police confirmed that they are currently investigating this as a case of mischief by fire.

H/T: Lianhe Wanbao

Top image adapted via Where2shop.sg