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The police cordoned off the area near the stall after arriving at the scene. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
Today 03:43pm
Man arrested for allegedly assaulting diner after noodle stall collision
www.tnp.sg
A man allegedly lost his temper and assaulted another diner after a minor incident at Marsiling Mall's hawker centre on May 27, leaving the victim bleeding heavily.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at 8pm, when a man carrying a bowl of noodles accidentally bumped into another diner who had just purchased his food.
Upset by the latter's murmured complaints, the man allegedly lashed out violently.
Madam Foo, 52, alerted Shin Min Daily News after noticing a large pool of blood near a noodle stall while passing by the scene.
When Shin Min reporters arrived, they observed bloodstains on the ground and bloodied tissues left on a nearby table.
Madam Ong, a nearby stall owner, recounted: "I was attending to my stall when I heard a commotion. I looked out and saw a fight breaking out not far away. One young man was throwing punches at another - he looked very aggressive."
Another female hawker, who declined to be named, witnessed the incident. She said a man in red had walked up to a noodle stall to order food, while a younger man was carrying his bowl toward a dining table.
"They appeared to have a minor collision, but the younger man didn't say anything - he just walked off and sat down. The man in red, however, seemed unhappy. He started muttering non-stop and gesturing angrily," she recalled.
Although she couldn't catch the exact words, the man in red reportedly grumbled for at least two minutes. The younger man eventually stood up and confronted him with his hands on his hips. Tension escalated quickly.
"Suddenly, the younger man punched the man in red in the face, knocking him to the ground. He held his forehead in pain," the hawker said.
In a police statement obtained by Shin Min Daily News, the Singapore Police Force confirmed the incident. A 23-year-old man was conscious when taken to hospital, while a 30-year-old man was arrested. Investigations are ongoing.
According to a stall owner, the victim's parents were at the scene. His mother screamed and rushed forward, pleading for the attacker to stop as she shielded her son.
Other diners also stepped in, pulling the assailant away and helping the injured man to his feet. Some stall owners offered tissues to help stop the bleeding.
The hawker who was interviewed reported that the man who threw the punch was a regular customer.
"He's usually very quiet. No one expected him to react so violently."
She added: "The weather's been hot and humid lately, maybe that's made people more irritable. But mealtimes should be enjoyable. This wasn't some deep-seated grudge. I just hope everyone can stay calm and amiable."
