‘I’m not a man who gets scared easily’: Man who stopped Buangkok sword attacker receives award

Mr Amila Chinthana, 35, was waiting at a traffic junction in Buangkok Crescent on Monday afternoon (March 14) when a man armed with a samurai sword attacked him.

“He just ran towards me and slashed me three times,” said Mr Chinthana, who owns a delivery service company.

Mr Amila Chinthana, 35, was waiting at a traffic junction in Buangkok Crescent on Monday afternoon (March 14) when a man armed with a samurai sword attacked him.

“He just ran towards me and slashed me three times,” said Mr Chinthana, who owns a delivery service company.

He was recording the scene with his mobile phone when the man charged at him, forcing him to use his grocery bags to fend off the attacker.

“I’m not a man who gets scared easily, I don’t know if this is in my blood,” said Mr Chinthana, who did not think of fleeing despite the risk of getting seriously injured.

“I knew that I could run, but somehow, I was still standing there.”

After he pinned the man down, several other passers-by came to his aid, he said, adding that the police arrived within five minutes.

Mr Chinthana is among six people who will be presented with the Public Spiritedness Award by the Ang Mo Kio Police Division on Tuesday, for restraining the armed assailant and stopping him from causing more harm to the public while waiting for the police to arrive.

Police said the man will be charged in court on Wednesday for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

The sword used by the assailant.