SINGAPORE: The man arrested for stabbing a priest at a church in Bukit Timah here, has been identified as Basnayake Keith Spencer, 37.
Spencer stabbed Reverend Christopher Lee at St Joseph's Church on Nov 9.
The Straits Times reported that parishioners said Spencer was not a regular attendee at the church.
A video circulating online after the attack showed a bald man in a bloodied white T-shirt being escorted from the church in handcuffs.
Spencer had a previous conviction in 2019 for stabbing his ex-girlfriend while on drugs. He was sentenced to jail for causing harm with a dangerous weapon.
The attack took place during the church's monthly children's mass.
Police later confirmed they had found five weapons in Basnayake's possession, including the folding knife used in the assault.
Following the attack, at least three members of the church's emergency task force patrolled the premises and conducted bag checks before morning mass on Nov 10.
The church updated parishioners that Father Lee's surgery had gone well, and he was in stable condition in hospital.
Rosalin Kolandasamy, a 69-year-old parishioner, said she was devastated to learn of the attack from a friend shortly after it occurred.
"Father Lee always brought the church community together," she said, recalling his efforts to foster fellowship, including chartering a bus for a recent church event.
Software engineer Jose Nidhin, 40, expressed shock that the attack occurred during a children's mass.
"To do such a thing in front of kids is pretty bad," he said.
Spencer is expected to be charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon today. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment, or up to 15 years in prison, and possible caning or a fine.
There is no evidence to suggest the attack was religiously motivated, authorities said.
The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) condemned the attack, expressing gratitude to the Archdiocesan Emergency Response team and the congregation for restraining the assailant.
In a letter to Archbishop William Goh, NCCS president Bishop Lu Guan Hoe said, "We pray for the perpetrator, even though we do not know the reasons behind his actions."