Everything You Need to Know About the Woodleigh MRT Powder Incident

On 18 April, yesterday, Woodleigh MRT station was temporarily closed for 3 hours from 1pm, reopening only at 4.20pm, due to some sort of mysterious white powder being discovered scattered around the station.

Those with more active imaginations might speculate wildly about the identity of the powder. Was it some sort of biological or chemical terrorist attack? Was is a satanic ritual? Was it drugs?

It was drugs, wasn’t it?

Fortunately, real life hasn’t gotten so scary as yet. Late yesterday, the police released a statement explaining the whole incident on Facebook.

Turns out, the white powder was baking flour. Handfuls of baking flour caused an MRT station to be shut down for 3 hours, and triggered an investigation involving the SPF and HazMat officers from SCDF.

Latest reports indicate that the 69-year-old man arrested for placing flour was doing so as part of the Seletar Hash House Harriers, a running club set up in 1980, with 82 members on its Facebook page. Two other men from the club were assisting investigations.

The running club engaged in what was known as hashing, where runners mark out running routes with flour, chalk or toilet paper. Routes typically run through jungles, HDB estates and even in the city.

Because the only way to make running worse is to turn the whole thing into a bioterrorism scare.

Of course, it’s a good thing that this was only a false alarm, and the authorities responded according to the perceived threat level. Now that the threat of terrorism loomed constantly over the world, it is only appropriate to take any security incidents seriously.

Singaporeans generally responded positively as well, with most being confident that the authorities are able to deal with similar issues speedily.

Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin has also stressed that this response was not an overreaction, as it is quite prudent to be careful in situations like this.

Since you’re here, why not check out Goody Feed’s YouTube videos as well? They’re so Singaporean, I bet you’ll like them!

Featured Image: straitstimes.com

This article was first published on goodyfeed.com

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