S'pore PM: Govt will deal with riot culprits

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (pic) has described the Little India riots on Sunday night as a 'very grave incident' and said the government will go all out to identify the culprits and deal with them with the full force of the law.

"Whatever events may have sparked the rioting, there is no excuse for such violent, destructive, and criminal behaviour," he said when commenting on the incident on his Facebook posting early Monday.

He said several police officers were injured and vehicles damaged or destroyed.

"The situation is now under control, and investigations are underway," he said and urged all Singaporeans to stay calm.

He asked those who have any information, photos or videos of the incident to send it to the police.

He also wished the injured police officers a full and speedy recovery.

Ten police officers were injured and five police vehicles, an ambulance and several privates vehicles were damaged in the Sunday night riots that erupted following a fatal road accident.

Twenty-seven people, all from South Asia, were arrested following the incident.

No Singaporeans were involved in the incident.

According to the police, at 9.23pm on Sunday, a fatal traffic accident occurred between a private bus and a 33-year old Indian national at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road.

Shortly after, a riot broke out involving a crowd of about 400 people who damaged five police vehicles and an ambulance. Several other private vehicles were also damaged, while 10 police officers were injured.

The police activated resources from the Special Operations Command and Gurkha Contingent to the scene and brought the situation under control. People in the area were advised to remain indoors.

The police advised members of the public to stay calm and not to speculate on the incident.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean said in a statement: "This is a serious incident which has resulted in injuries and damage to public property.

"The situation is now under control. Police will spare no effort to apprehend the subjects involved in the riot."

In a separate statement, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said: "SCDF was alerted at 9.25 pm to a road accident at the junction of Race Course Road and Tekka Lane.

Upon arrival, there was a man trapped under a bus. An SCDF paramedic pronounced him dead. SCDF rescuers removed the body using a hydraulic rescue equipment.

Projectiles were thrown at the SCDF rescuers while they were extricating the body. A total of nine SCDF vehicles were damaged in the incident.

By early today, SCDF had sent 18 people, including four SCDF personnel, to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The incident was the first in Singapore's history since the 1969 communal riots which lasted for seven days and resulted in four deaths and 80 wounded.

Little India is a famous spot for foreign workers from the Indian sub-continent to hang out during weekends.