The Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), New Zealand Defence Support Unit (NZDSU) (South East Asia) and Installations Auxiliary Police Force (IAPF) conducted a counter-terrorism exercise in the morning of 24 February 2023 at Sembawang Naval Installation (SNI). This exercise is part of the continuous efforts by the Home Team and SAF to test and validate Singapore’s multi-agency response plan in the event of terrorist attacks.
The exercise involved about 200 personnel from SPF’s Woodlands Division, Gurkha Contingent (GC), Police Coast Guard (PCG), 3rd SCDF Division, SAF’s 8th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR), and IAPF ground forces under the command and control of the NZDSU (South East Asia).
In Phase 1 of the exercise, the SPF’s PCG and SAF responded to a sea intrusion by a pair of speedboats that demonstrated their close coordination and strong communications skills to protect the sea boundary into SNI against waterborne threats. The exercise scenario subsequently developed into a land intrusion by marauding gunmen. Both the IAPF and SAF’s ground forces provided the first response to these simulated terror attacks and assisted to contain the situation.
In Phase 2 of the exercise, the first wave responders from SPF’s Ground Response Force (GRF) took over command and control of the incident from IAPF and SAF. The Emergency Response Team (ERT) from Woodlands Division and GC responded in the second wave and provided additional tactical capabilities to contain the situation. To manage the mass casualty situation, SCDF forces were deployed to conduct rescue and evacuation of the casualties and to render emergency medical assistance to those in need.
In Phase 3 of the exercise, multiple mass casualty workstations were set up by the SPF’s Community Policing Unit (CPU) officers. These mass casualty workstations provided different types of support, including ground support for ground forces, forensic support for investigation as well as psychological and emotional support to victims and the next-of-kin of victims.
The Home Team agencies and SAF conducts regular joint training and exercises to enhance operational readiness in homeland security operations. Such interactions strengthen the interoperability between the security forces to deal swiftly and effectively with terrorism threats under the Homefront Crisis Management Framework.
Group photograph of key officers from SCDF, NZDSU (South East Asia), SPF, SAF and IAPF.
Safety briefing conducted by the SPF to all participants
The role players intruding SNI
SAF officer in action
SPF ERT officers in action
SCDF officers conducting rescue and evacuation
SCDF officers rendering emergency medical assistance
SPF GC officers arresting one of the perpetrators
SPF CPU officer setting up the mass casualty workstation
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
03 March 2023 @ 8:05 PM