Update 8 Dec 2023: Little India Riot: 10 years on
Little India rioters chanted ‘Kill the woman, burn the bus’: Certis officer
A rock the size of a fist slammed into his head as shattered glass rained down on him during the riot in Little India on Dec 8, 2013. Certis officer Nathan Chandra Sekaran, then 34, was surrounded by hundreds of rioters, who were so close he could smell the stench of alcohol on their breaths.
“They were chanting in Tamil, ‘Kill the woman, burn the bus,’” he said. “They told me to leave and said they didn’t want to have a problem with me because I was Indian. But how could I? I told them it was my duty to protect that woman, so I could not go.” That night, several hundred migrant workers had surrounded a private bus that had run over and killed Mr Sakthivel Kumaravelu, 33, a construction worker from Tamil Nadu in India.
The rioters blamed the bus timekeeper, Madam Grace Wong Geck Woon, and the bus driver, Mr Lee Kim Huat, for the man’s death. They wanted to attack the duo as they holed up inside the bus. The rioters were especially upset with Madam Wong, because of a rumour she had pushed Mr Sakthivel off the vehicle. As timekeeper, she was responsible for the movement of buses transporting foreign workers from Little India to their dormitories in Jalan Papan in Jurong.
Singapore takes issue with NYT editorial on 'Singapore's angry migrant workers'
Singapore has released a strongly worded statement slamming the New York Times over an editorial it published last month entitled "Singapore's angry migrant workers".
The statement, which was undersigned by Singapore ambassador to the United States, Ashok Mirpuri, took issue with the editorial which claimed December's Little India riot was caused by the frustration of migrant workers over wages and living conditions.
Ambassador Mirpuri had written to the New York Times a few days later after the editorial was published on December 28 and sought to clarify the facts.
related: Singapore’s Angry Migrant Workers
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0.05: Mob overturned 1st Police car
0.20: White ambulance drove off
0.33: Mob overturned 2nd Police car
3.00: Red Vehicle (Fire Engine?) reversed, collided onto Police car and drove off
4.00: Mob attempted to overturn 3rd Police car
Crowd Battles Police in Singapore District
A crowd set fire to vehicles and clashed with the police in the Indian district of Singapore late on Sunday, a rare outbreak of violence in the city-state.
The Singapore police said the trouble started after a fatal traffic accident. “Shortly after, a riot broke out involving a crowd of about 400 subjects where the subjects damaged five police vehicles and one ambulance,” the police said in a statement, adding that about 10 officers were injured.
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Accident triggers foreign worker riot in Singapore
Firemen douse a charred ambulance after a riot broke out in Singapore, in the early hours of December 9, 2013 (AFP, Roslan Rahman)
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a statement that "whatever events may have sparked the rioting, there is no excuse for such violent, destructive, and criminal behaviour." "We will spare no effort to identify the culprits and deal with them with the full force of the law," he added.
Five vehicles including three police cars and a civil defence ambulance were burnt while pictures and videos posted in social media showed two police cars being overturned by a cheering mob. Several private vehicles were also damaged in the fracas. The situation was brought under control after the elite Special Operations Command and Gurkhas working for the police arrived on the scene. The rare outbreak of public disorder in strictly governed Singapore took place in an area normally packed with thousands of workers, mostly from the Indian subcontinent, on their day off.
"Let me say that the incident that happened last night is intolerable. Rioting, destruction of property, it is not the Singapore way," Commissioner of Police Ng Joo Hee said at a news conference in the early hours of Monday morning. State-linked broadcaster MediaCorp said it was the first riot in Singapore since racial disturbances in 1969.
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Accident Leads to Street Violence in Singapore
Little India is usually crowded on Sundays, with many construction
workers from Bangladesh and India gathering there to spend their day
off. Violent episodes are rare in Singapore, which has tough laws on rioting
that carry a sentence of up to seven years in prison and possible
caning.
“This is a serious incident which has resulted in injuries and damage to
public property,” said Teo Chee Hean, deputy prime minister and
minister of home affairs. “Police will spare no efforts to apprehend the
subjects involved in the riot.”
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Death of South Asian worker triggers riot in Singapore
A report of Channel News Asia
identified the dead worker as a Bangladesh national. However, this
could not be independently confirmed
A riot broke out in Singapore's Little India neighborhood Sunday night, apparently after a Bangladeshi worker was hit and killed by a bus, a local television channel reported.
Hundreds of South Asian workers staged demonstration in Singapore late Sunday following the road accident, leaving 10 police officers injured and at least six vehicles damaged, police told AFP.
Channel News Asia showed dramatic pictures of burning vehicles and people attacking the windshield of a bus with sticks and garbage bins. It was not clear if anyone was injured in the rioting that began late in the evening
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Fatal crash sparks riots in Singapore
AFTER THE STORM: A policeman patrols the streets following the outbreak of violence
A crowd has set fire to vehicles and clashed with police in the Indian district of Singapore in a rare outbreak of rioting in the city state.
The incident on Sunday night reportedly started after a private bus hit and killed a foreign worker in the Little India area. Television footage showed a crowd of people smashing the windscreen of a bus, and at least three police cars being flipped over.
Singapore Police Force said the riot started after a fatal traffic accident. "Shortly after, a riot broke out involving a crowd of about 400 subjects where the subjects damaged five police vehicles and one ambulance," it said in a statement, adding that about 10 police officers were injured.
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Rioting Erupts in Little India, Singapore
The rioting that erupted in Little India, Singapore on Sunday evening has finally come under control, according to the local police. It had started among south Asian workers and there was damaging of police cars and other vehicles in the city state’s district of Little India according to eyewitnesses
This extremely rare outburst of public chaos, in harshly controlled Singapore, occurred in a place that is usually packed with over thousands of workers, mainly from the Indian subcontinent, spending time there while on their day off.
The riot was brought under control within about two hours or so but not before quite a bit of damage had been done.
The local police released a statement which said that 10 officers were injured, and five police vehicles, one emergency ambulance and numerous private vehicles had been damaged by at least 400 insurgents.
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Riot breaks out in Singapore's Little India neighbourhood
Firemen douse a charred ambulance after riot breaks out in Singapore. Photograph: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images
A rare riot broke out in Singapore on Sunday night, apparently after a Bangladeshi worker in the Little India district was hit and killed by a bus, a local television channel reported
Channel News Asia showed dramatic pictures of burning vehicles and people attacking the windshield of a bus with sticks and refuse bins. It was not clear if anyone was injured in the rioting that began late in the evening. Such violence is unheard of in Singapore, an orderly, modern city-state known for strict punishments for crime and generally law-abiding citizen
In a statement, police confirmed that rioting took place but gave no details. It only said officers were on the scene in Little India, an area popular among Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Nepali expatriates
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Vehicles burned in Singapore riot after fatal road incident
A police car and another vehicle ablaze on Race Course Road during a
riot in Singapore’s Little India district today. Photograph: Desmond
Wee/Straits Times/Reuters
A crowd set fire to vehicles and clashed with police in the Indian district of Singapore late today in a rare outbreak of rioting in the city-state.
The incident reportedly started after a private bus hit and killed a foreign worker in the Little India
area. Television footage showed a crowd of people smashing the
windscreen of a bus and at least three police cars being flipped over.
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Hundreds of foreign workers torch cars and attack police in one of worst riots in Singapore for 40 years after Indian man killed by bus
Ten police officers were injured as 400 people rioted in Singapore's Little India neighbourhood on Sunday night
Hundreds of foreign workers set fire to cars and clashed with police during a riot in Singapore tonight
The disorder, which is rare in the city state, broke out in Singapore's Little India district after an Indian worker was reportedly hit and killed by a bus. It is believed to be the worst outbreak of violence in Singapore for 40 years
Ten police officers were injured as about 400 people rioted, flipping police cars and smashing ambulances with sticks and garbage bins
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Riot in Singapore's Little India
Residents in the area described the scene as "havoc". One resident said at one point he saw about 200 men surround the minibus that was involved in the accident
At least three busloads of police officers in riot gear responded to a riot that broke out along Race Course Road around 10pm on Sunday night. The mob believed to be made up mainly of foreign workers apparently attacked an ambulance and a traffic police highway patrol car responding to an accident earlier in the vicinity
The Singapore's Straits Times understands that a Bangladeshi worker was hit by a bus earlier and first responders were believed to be attending to the victim when the riot started. At least two vehicles were set on fire. According to preliminary reports from the ground, one of the vehicles on fire is an ambulance on fire. Also a few police cars were overturned and one was set on fire.
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Accident triggers foreign worker riot in Singapore
Hundreds of South Asian workers rioted in Singapore late Sunday after being enraged by a fatal road accident, leaving 18 people injured and police vehicles burnt in the city-state's worst outbreak of violence in more than 40 years
A police statement said the disturbance started in the congested Little India district when a 33-year-old Indian man was killed after being hit by a private bus.
Police said about 400 people on the scene began rioting, attacking the bus as well as police vehicles after officers responded to reports of a commotion. Ten policemen, four civil defence staff and the bus driver and conductor were among the injured, but none were seriously hurt, officials said.
A total of 27 South Asian workers were arrested on charges of rioting, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison plus caning, police said
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Full Coverage:
| Saudi Gazette: Foreign worker riot shocks Singapore |
| Huffington Post: Riots Break Out In Singapore After Fatal Bus Accident |
Indian Express: 24 Indians arrested in Singapore after riots
CNBC.com: First riot in 40 years rocks peaceful Singapore
BBC News: Singapore bus death sparks riot
Reuters India: Singapore hit by rare outbreak of rioting
Chicago Tribune: REFILE-Singapore hit by rare outbreak of rioting
Malaysia Chronicle: S'POREANS IN SHOCK over workers' riot: Cars burnt
New York Times: Crowd Battles Police In Singapore DistrictReuters: Singapore hit by rare outbreak of rioting
Sacramento Bee: Rare rioting shocks orderly Singapore
Bloomberg: Singapore Warns on Violence After Riot in Indian District
NEWS.com.au: Riot breaks out on Little India area of Singapore
|
Reuters Canada: Singapore hit by rare outbreak of rioting
|
The Star Online: Singapore riot: 27 South Asians arrested
New York Times: Accident Leads to Street Violence in Singapore
Wall Street Journal: Rare Riot Hits Singapore
Business Times: Little India riot "under control": minister
The Malay Mail Online: Rioters in Singapore attacked crash rescuers (VIDEO)
Telegraph.co.uk: Singapore foreign worker riot triggered by bus accident
The Malaysian Insider: What really caused the Little India riot? – The Real Spore
The Malay Mail Online: Accident triggers foreign worker riot in Singapore (VIDEO)
Business Insider: Spore Calls For Calm After Little India Riot, The First Since 1960s
Guardian Express: Riot in Singapore After Bus Hits Man in Little India [Videos]
Stuff.co.nz: Fatal crash sparks riots in Singapore
Stuff.co.nz: crash sparks riots in Singapore
New Tang Dynasty Television: Singapore Hit By Rare Outbreak Of Rioting
Financial Times: Riot tarnishes Singapore's image as place of ethnic harmony
: Singapore riot: 27 South Asians arrested: Rare Riot Hits Singapore
New Straits Times: Riot in Singapore's Little India
Guardian Express: Rioting Erupts in Little India, Singapore
The Borneo Post: 18 injured in Little India riot: SCDF
The Malay Mail Online: Angry mob riots at Little India in Singapore (VIDEO)
Yahoo Singapore News Fatal accident sparks angry night riot in Little India
Business Times: Little India riot "under control": ministerMalaysia Sun: Vehicles burned in Singapore riot after fatal road incident
| The Malaysian Insider: Accident triggers foreign worker riot in Singapore |
TODAYonline: 400 people riot in Little India
Channel News Asia: 18 injured in Little India riot
Business Standard: Accident triggers riot in Singapore's Little India
Bernama: Riot In Singapore's Little India
The Star Online: Singapore riot: Police in control of riot at Little India
New Straits Times: Cars burnt as workers riot in Singapore's Little India
related:
Singapore, India And CECA
Riot sparked by death of Indian worker who was hit and killed by a bus on Sunday
The burnt remains of a car that was set on fire during a rare outbreak
of violence in Singapore, where riots are punished severely
Ten police officers were injured as 400 people rioted in Singapore's Little India neighbourhood on Sunday night
Riot policemen watch burning vehicles during the riot in the Little India district on Sunday night
Singapore's civil defence officers extinguish burning vehicles after the riot was brought under control at about 1am local time
Police detain men following the riot. The violence is likely to fuel concerns about discontent among low-paid foreign workers
Riot police cordon off the area in Little India after the riot was brought under control within hours
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean (front right) inspects
the damage. He said police will 'spare no efforts to apprehend the
subjects involved in the riot'
Hundreds of people torched police cars and smashed ambulances after a Bangladeshi worker was reportedly hit and killed by a bus
Rioters damaged ambulances and clashed with police during the outbreak of violence, which is rare in Singapore
Police cars were overturned during the riot and politicians have vowed to find and arrest those who took part
People convicted of taking part in the riot could face up to seven years in prison or even be caned
Riot in Singapore's Little India
A view from a high-rise flat
shows two overturned police cars (C) and several other damaged vehicles
along Race Course Road following a riot near Singapore's Little India
district December 9, 2013. Local media said a mob of about 400 set fire
to an ambulance and police cars during the riot on Sunday, which started
after a bus knocked down a pedestrian. REUTERS/Stringer (SINGAPORE -
Tags: CIVIL UNREST)
Black smoke is seen billowing near the Little India MRT station evening of Sunday, 8 December 2013
The burnt shells of vehicles are
pictured along Race Course Road following a riot near Singapore's Little
India district December 9, 2013. Local media said a mob of about 400
set fire to an ambulance and police cars during the riot on Sunday,
which started after a bus knocked down a pedestrian. REUTERS/Stringer
(SINGAPORE - Tags: CIVIL UNREST)
Singapore's civil defence officers extinguish burning vehicles following a riot in Singapore's Little India district late December 8, 2013. Local media said a mob of about 400 set fire to an ambulance and police cars during the riot on Sunday, which started after a bus knocked down a pedestrian. REUTERS/Dennis Thong/Lianhe Zaobao (SINGAPORE - Tags: CIVIL UNREST) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. SINGAPORE OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SINGAPORE
Police detain men following a riot in Singapore's Little India district, late December 8, 2013. Local media said a mob of about 400 set fire to an ambulance and police cars during the riot on Sunday, which started after a bus knocked down a pedestrian. REUTERS/Dennis Thong/Lianhe Zaobao (SINGAPORE - Tags: CIVIL UNREST) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. SINGAPORE OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SINGAPORE
Officials stand around a bus
with a smashed windshield following a riot in Singapore's Little India
district, December 9, 2013. A crowd set fire to vehicles and clashed
with police in the Indian district of Singapore late on Sunday, in a
rare outbreak of rioting in the city state. Television footage showed a
crowd of people smashing the windscreen of a bus, and at least three
police cars being flipped over. The Singapore Police Force said the riot
started after a fatal traffic accident in the Little India area.
REUTERS/Rob Dawson (SINGAPORE - Tags: CIVIL UNREST)
A police officer walks with a
riot shield following a riot in Singapore's Little India district,
December 9, 2013. Local media said a mob of about 400 set fire to an
ambulance and police cars during the riot on Sunday, which started after
a bus knocked down a pedestrian. REUTERS/Rob Dawson (SINGAPORE - Tags:
CIVIL UNREST)
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