Little India Riot: Injured SCDF and police officers have been discharged from hospital

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said all its injured personnel have been discharged from hospital. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said all its injured personnel have been discharged from hospital. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said all its injured personnel have been discharged from hospital.

The release said that of the 60 personnel deployed for the Little India accident between a private bus and a pedestrian on Sunday evening, 12 had sustained injuries such as lacerations on the face and cuts on their hands. It was earlier reported that the SCDF personnel were sent to the emergency area of Tan Tock Seng hospital early Monday morning, where they mostly received outpatient treatment.

"The injuries sustained were due to projectiles hurled at them while they were carrying out their duties at the incident site," said the statement. "All of them have since been discharged from the hospital."

The release said that the nine SCDF vehicles that were badly damaged consisted of three ambulances, a red rhino, a fire engine and four support vehicles. One of the ambulances was completely burnt at the incident site, while the remaining damaged vehicles had "varying degree of damages such as smashed windshields, and scratches and dents to the doors and frame".

"Notwithstanding this incident, we would like to assure the public that there is no disruption to the provision of our fire-fighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services," said the news release. "The morale and spirit of SCDF personnel remains high and committed towards our life saving mission."

In a separate press release on Monday, the police said that 22 police officers and five auxiliary police officers sought treatment at the hospital. All of them have since been discharged from the hospital.

Police have classified the traffic incident between the private bus and the pedestrian as Causing Death by Negligent Act, and the subsequent incident as Rioting with Dangerous Weapons. The driver is assisting Traffic Police with investigations into the traffic incident.

Police have arrested 27 people, aged between 23 and 45, in connection with the rioting incident. Of them, 24 are Indian nationals, two are Bangladeshi nationals and one is a Singaporean Permanent resident.

The press release said 16 police vehicles were damaged in the rioting incident. The damaged vehicles have been removed from Race Course Road and Hampshire Road and the affected roads were opened at 6.45am.

Members of the public with any information about the riot are advised to submit them via www.spf.gov.sg/iwitness and www.spf.gov.sg/CrimeStopper.

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