SINGAPORE – The Singaporean Sinhala man arrested for stabbing a priest at a church in Bukit Timah on November 9 has been identified as Basnayake Keith Spencer.

Parishioners who spoke to The Straits Times said Basnayake, 37, had previously been seen at St Joseph’s Church in Upper Bukit Timah but was not a regular.

In a video circulating online following the Nov. 9 attack on 57-year-old Pastor Christopher Lee, a thin, bald man in a bloody white T-shirt can be seen being led away from the church with his hands behind his back.

ST learned that the man in the video is Basnayake. In 2019, he was convicted of causing injury with a dangerous weapon and jailed; He pleaded guilty to stabbing his ex-girlfriend while she was on drugs at a party.

Before the morning service on November 10, at least three members of the church’s emergency task force were seen patrolling the church building. They checked the bags of some churchgoers.

At the service, the congregation was informed about Father Lee’s condition. The church said the priest’s surgery went well and he is resting.

The church also posted an update on Facebook stating that Father Lee was in stable condition and was being kept in the hospital so doctors could monitor him.