Ismail supposedly had a dispute with the Chinese shoopkeeper of a provisional shop about the price of some goods. During the argument Ismail pulled out a golok, attacked the shopkeeper, and also turned against the other customers.[3]

He then rushed out into the street, where he continued to stab people at random. On his way he came across Looi Ah Seng, who was sitting outside his house, and whom he chased through the street, before fatally stabbing him in the stomach. Afterwards he entered the shop of Heng Swee Kheng, stabbed Heng's younger brother, and later on attacked goldsmith Ng Loon Cheng in front of a coffee-shop, injuring him in the left forearm.[4]

In total four Chinese men died at the scene, while seven or eight other people were wounded,among them three women. A fifth man succumbed to his injuries seven hours later in hospital, and a sixth on the morning of November 6, while Tan Sai Way, one of the injured women, died during the night to November 7.

Ismail was eventually subdued by police and sent to the mental hospital in Tanjong Rambutan for observation.[5] On March 3, 1950 the 42-year-old was found to have been insane at the time of the murders and was ordered to be kept in Penang prison.[2]