SAF, HOME TEAM DEFEND S'PORE IN NATION'S LARGEST COUNTER-TERROR EXERCISE

Nighttime, and most of Singapore is getting ready for bed. But the peace and stillness is broken by gunshots ringing through the air.

Armed terrorists have landed on Singapore's northern shores and are firing indiscriminately at civilians at the Marina Country Club. Within hours, they have progressed further inland and are attacking shoppers at Junction 8 in Bishan.

Over at Tampines, similar gunshots are heard. A simultaneous attack has been launched at Century Square as well. Can Singapore's security agencies stop them before more civilians are harmed?

This was the scenario played out in an islandwide counter-terrorism (CT) exercise by the Home Team (HT) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Conducted by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) from 17 to 18 Oct, the exercise tests and validates the HT and SAF's operational response to large-scale terror attacks. It was the largest CT exercise in Singapore to date, and saw the participation of more than 3,200 personnel from both the HT and SAF.

On high alert

The exercise began on the morning of 17 Oct with the nation-wide activation of HT and SAF forces, following information shared by neighbouring countries of numerous bomb blasts occurring in the region.

The national threat level was raised and land security patrols and border security deployment increased.

On the SAF's part, the Island Defence Task Force's 4th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (4 SIR), 5 SIR and 41st Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment were activated.

As the alarm rang at 10am, sounding off the activation, soldiers from 4 SIR scrambled to gather at the company line. They then underwent Just-In-Time (JIT) training in preparation for joint security patrols with their counterparts in the SPF.

As part of the training, the troops underwent refresher training on subjects such as search-and-arrest and baton drills, weapon refresher courses, as well as classroom lessons on the Rules of Engagement. The JIT training helped to familiarise the troops to the various processes, should they be required to intercept terrorists or suspicious persons during their patrols.

After attending a briefing at the Jurong East Neighbourhood Police Centre (JE NPC), some 4 SIR soldiers were then deployed to Jem and Westgate to carry out joint security patrols with JE NPC police officers.

This was part of the joint deterrence patrols conducted at over 360 locations like public transport nodes, commercial areas, residential heartlands and checkpoints.

Taking down the gunmen

The exercise came to a climax with the infiltration of the terrorists at Marina Country Club who then went on a rampage, attacking civilians in the shopping malls situated in the crowded heartlands.

A group of gunmen were on the loose in Bishan. From the bus interchange, they made their way to popular suburban mall, Junction 8, mowing down anyone they came across.

Mayhem ensued as the terrorists entrenched themselves in the mall. Shoppers were caught unawares but the HT and SAF had been activated and were on their way.

The SPF's Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) were first on the scene and worked to contain the attackers in the mall. To prevent the ERTs from being overwhelmed, the SAF's Army Deployment Force (ADF) and Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) were also activated.

As the SOTF slipped into the building through a side stairway, the ADF arrived and quickly cordoned the area.

The firefight within the mall thickened as the SOTF swiftly gained the upper hand and the entrapped civilians frantically scrambled to escape. Once at the outer perimeter, the civilians were escorted to safety by the ADF and medical attention was provided to the injured.

Sensing that they were losing the fight, some of the remaining gunmen tried to slip through the cordon by blending in with the escaping civilians. However, they were quickly identified and taken down by the soldiers.

Over at Century Square, the ERT and Anti-Swarming Team gave chase to armed terrorists who had taken civilian hostages and were threatening to kill them. Several gunmen were taken down in the crossfire.

The remaining terrorists made a getaway to the adjacent Tampines Mall. In desperation, some of them escaped to the cinema, where they held movie-goers hostage.

The SOTF was immediately deployed to rescue the hostages. Using explosives, they forced open the theatre doors and stormed the pitch-dark cinema.

While intercepting the intruders, the SOTF discovered one of the terrorists posing as a hostage. He was promptly identified and taken down. All the hostages were then filed out of the cinema.

As the hostages were being released, one was found to have an improvised explosive devise that had been strapped onto him by the terrorists. The SAF's Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Defence Group was quickly brought in to diffuse the bomb and save the terrified hostage.

Speaking to the media at Tampines Mall after observing the end of the exercise, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean said that the exercise was crucial in testing the coordination among the various security agencies.

"Over the last several months, both the Home Team and the SAF have worked together to develop new SOPs (standard operating procedures), joint procedures. Today's exercise was an opportunity for them to exercise and validate them."

Highlighting the current security climate, Mr Teo also reminded all Singaporeans to play their part in staying vigilant: "We have to take the (terror) threats seriously, not just the security forces, but everyone in Singapore, to stay alert, stay united, and stay strong."