A shocking knife attack took place at Serangoon Shopping Centre, where a middle-aged woman attacked two other women inside a Korean Christian worship venue located on the mall’s third floor. Members of the public subdued the suspect before being handed over to the police.
It is believed that the location may be connected to the controversial South Korean cult group “Manmin Central Church.”
According to the Singapore Police Force, the 44-year-old suspect allegedly assaulted two women with a knife at around 12:20 pm on Sunday (October 26). She was arrested for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon and will also be referred for psychiatric assessment.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the 44-year-old woman had acted alone.
Police said the two victims, aged 36 and 44, were conscious when taken to the hospital. A 59-year-old man who helped restrain the suspect sustained minor injuries but declined medical attention. A knife was seized as evidence, and investigations are ongoing.
Panic broke out as people ran during Sunday prayer
When reporters arrived at the scene in the afternoon, three police cars were parked outside the mall. Most of the shops were closed, and there were few shoppers around. The incident took place in a corner shop on the third floor near the public toilet, where police officers were seen investigating behind a cordoned area.
The owner of a nearby computer repair shop, Mr Lai, 58, said the unit where the attack happened had been used as a Korean Christian worship venue for about four to five years.
“Every Friday night and Sunday, people would gather there to pray. Some even wore traditional Korean clothing, which made it look quite different from normal churches,” he said.
Mr Lai added that his shop was along the walkway leading to the worship venue, so he often saw the suspect and the two victims.
“The two injured women were very friendly and always greeted me. The suspect was quieter and rarely spoke. Sometimes she would sit outside my shop to rest,” he recalled.
Security camera footage showed the woman with short hair, wearing a white jacket and jeans, and carrying a black sling bag. She was seen walking past the computer shop around noon, and the attack happened about 10 minutes later.
At the time of the attack, there were more than 30 people inside the worship venue, including several children. Mr Lai said he first heard shouting and thought people were arguing, but soon saw many running out of the shop.
“I also heard that some adults took their children to hide in other shops. It was very chaotic,” he said.
Police and civil defence officers arrived quickly. The two injured women suffered cuts on their arms and thighs, while the suspect was handcuffed and taken away. Bloodstains were still visible on her body as she was escorted out.
Suspected link to “Manmin Central Church”
When reporters were later allowed to enter the scene, they found that the church occupied two diagonally opposite units. The glass doors were covered with newspapers and tablecloths. Inside, the space appeared almost empty except for a few chairs, tables, and books.
There were no photographs displayed, but a large section of the exterior wall featured religious messages and promotional material. Although the name of the church was not stated, one phrase, “The History of the Rainbow and All Nations”, suggested a connection to the South Korean cult “Manmin Central Church.”
The “Manmin Central Church” was founded in 1982 by South Korean pastor Lee Jae-Rock, who claimed to possess divine healing powers, create rainbows, make typhoons disappear, and even appear on the sun and moon. His followers believed him completely, donating their savings and even paying billions of won just to take photos with him.
He was later exposed for gambling away trillions of won and building an “Eden Garden” where he sexually assaulted female followers.
Due to its extreme teachings, the Christian Council of Korea declared it a cult on April 16, 1999.
In 2018, Lee Jae-Rock was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting eight female followers. The church became less active afterwards.
He was released temporarily in January 2023 due to terminal cancer and died that December.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, the Manmin Central Church has followers in Singapore, including former broadcasters and family doctors.
The church was also featured in the 2023 Netflix documentary In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, which revealed the dark side of four South Korean religious cults, including the Manmin Central Church.
