SINGAPORE -- The Singapore Police Force (SPF) have identified the three Singaporean suspects involved in a shooting incident in the wee hours of Sunday near the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, the venue of a high-profile security summit.
In a statement posted on Facebook Monday, the SPF said the 34- year-old driver of the Subaru Impreza that suddenly accelerated towards officers after being stopped for a security check, was Mohamed Taufik Zahar. He is wanted for "failing to attend court for an offense of criminal intimidation" and has a history of drugs, as well as other criminal records, police said.
" Despite repeated warnings to stop, the vehicle continued to drive dangerously across the security checkpoint and headed towards the secured venue. Officers fired at the vehicle to stop it from causing harm to others and from proceeding further," SPF said.
The passengers in the car are Mohamed Ismail, 31, and Muhammad Syahid Mohamed Yasni, 26, who were arrested following the incident. Mohamed Ismail, who was injured in the skirmish, is also wanted for drug related offenses and for failing to stop at a roadblock, police said. The pair both have a history of drugs and criminal records, SPF added.
The two men are being investigated by Central Narcotics Bureau for drug-related offenses and will be charged later on Monday for a drug trafficking offense under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Police earlier said substances believed to be controlled drugs and an item, believed to be a drug-taking utensil, were found on the two men arrested. A bag containing white powdery substances, believed to be controlled drugs was also recovered from the vehicle.
The Special Investigation Section of Criminal Investigation Department is investigating the death of Mohamed Taufik Zahar as part of the Coroner's Inquiry process, police said. "All shooting cases are treated seriously and will be thoroughly investigated by the Police," SPF added.
Police said the incident was not terror-related, and Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said the police did the right thing in their handling of the perceived threat, "ever vigilant to the fact that this could have been a terrorist plot".
