Attacker of St Joseph's Church stabbing identified

The 37-year-old Singaporean Sinhalese man who was arrested after attacking a Catholic priest at St Joseph's Church in Bukit Timah on Nov. 9 has been identified.

According to The Straits Times and CNA, the man's name is Basnayake Keith Spencer, and he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment in 2019 after pleading guilty to stabbing his ex-girlfriend with a knife.

CNA reported at the time that Basnayake committed the offence in 2018 "under the influence of drugs".

Parishioners also told ST that while they had seen Basnayake at the church previously, he was not a regular.

Basnayake had previously declared to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) that he was Christian.

Witnesses' accounts

A parishioner told Mothership that the incident happened during Holy Communion.

The woman, surnamed Tan, was heading back to her seat when she heard a scream and something dropping to the floor.

While Tan did not witness the alleged stabbing, she saw the priest who was attacked by Basnayake, Father Christopher Lee, on the floor and was unable to continue mass.

She also saw church volunteers bringing kitchen towels to Lee and Lee being put on a drip while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

Tan also witnessed a few men restraining the assailant and escorting him out of the church.

"The parishioners were generally concerned about Lee and pretty calm. I did not see anyone making an attempt to leave. I believe they felt safe in the church," she added.

An online video that captured the aftermath of the incident showed Basnayake being escorted away from the church with his hands behind his back, reported ST.

According to the clip, Basnayake was seen dressed "in a bloodied white T-shirt" and a pair of jeans.

Men helped disarm Basnayake awarded by the police

On Nov. 10, the Singapore Police Force presented the public spiritedness award to two church attendees who helped disarm Basnayake during the attack.

@mothershipsg true heroes. #tiktoksg #news #singapore ♬ original sound - Mothership

During a media briefing on the same day, the police revealed that Basnayake was found to have a total of five weapons in his possession.

Besides the flip knife he used in the attack, Basnayake's weapon also included a box cutter, a hammer-like object, and a hook.

While Basnayake previously declared him to be Christian, police stated that there is "currently no evidence" to suggest that the attack was religiously motivated.

Basnayake will be charged in court on Nov. 11 with voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, added the police.

Injured priest in 'stable condition'

In an updated press release, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore said Lee is "currently in stable condition".

Lee is recovering in the hospital after surgery to close his wounds went well, and he "remains warded for doctors to monitor his condition".

"At this time, we do not encourage visitors to the hospital so that Lee can rest well. We do, however, encourage all to pray for his speedy recovery," added the Archdiocese.

Top images via Google Maps & Mothership