Police probe assault on 73-year-old vendor after he pats child’s head

Singapore police are reviewing an assault that occurred in a mall food court when 73-year-old noodle stall proprietor Yeo Song Khoon lightly patted a young girl's head as he passed her table. A man believed to be the child's father, identified as a 40-year-old, reacted angrily, seized Yeo's arm and threw him to the ground, an episode captured on security cameras that spread online over the weekend. Authorities have confirmed the suspect's identity and urged the public to refrain from speculation while investigations continue.

The episode generated a wave of sympathy for Yeo, whose family-run stall saw queues extending beyond an hour after the incident, and he reported lingering back pain despite taking paracetamol. Yeo's son posted online that the assailant later apologized and offered a drink, but said the apology does not alleviate his father's injuries. Police thanked the community for a swift response, and the case remains under investigation.