SINGAPORE, Dec. 21 -- A suspicious item found at St Joseph's Church in Bukit Timah, Singapore this morning was declared harmless after checks by police and a specialist military unit, with authorities saying the situation was under control but urging the public to stay away while operations continue.

In an update at 11.08am, police said officers and the Singapore Armed Forces' Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group (CBRE) had carried out "thorough checks" and concluded that the item posed no threat, The Straits Times reported.

Despite the all-clear, police operations remained ongoing and members of the public were advised to avoid the area until further notice.

Singapore Civil Defence Force vehicles were seen le...