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A joint counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness exercise codenamed “Exercise Heartbeat” was held at the National University of Singapore (NUS) University Town (UTown) on 13 February 2026. The exercise was organised by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and involved more than 120 participants, including officers from SPF’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), Police Tactical Unit (PTU) of the Special Operations Command (SOC), and ground response officers who responded to a simulated terror attack at the educational institution. Mr Goh Pei Ming, Minister of State (MOS) for Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development, was the Guest- of-Honour. 

A security exercise in collaboration with SPF was previously held at NUS in 2019 in a similar format, alongside the implementation of the Threat-Oriented Person Screening Integrated System (TOPSIS) framework at NUS. This year’s "Exercise Heartbeat" highlights the close collaboration between Home Team agencies and community partners in responding to terrorist attacks at UTown, which is an integral part of the university, serving as an educational hub and offering residential spaces, teaching facilities, and a cultural environment for students and university staff. 

As part of the exercise, Home Team agencies and NUS stakeholders responded to multiple scenarios including the detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), armed terrorists and a hostage situation. The stakeholders, as well as students trained by the SPF and SCDF in emergency skills, showcased their application of the key SGSecure advisories "Run, Hide, Tell" and "Press, Tie, Tell" (Improvised First Aid Skills (IFAS)) prior to the arrival of emergency responders. These swift actions demonstrated how trained community members can save lives and minimise casualties during crises. This exercise also reinforced the importance for community partners to periodically review their security measures, familiarise themselves with and validate their contingency plans to enhance their readiness to respond to emergencies.
As a SaferSG partner, NUS has demonstrated strong partnership and close collaboration with the SPF in promoting safety and security within their community and by actively participating in this exercise.

MOS Goh, who observed the exercise said, “Today’s Exercise Heartbeat demonstrates the strong partnership between the Home Team agencies and NUS, and our collective commitment to safeguarding our Institutes of Higher Learning against the threat of terrorism. I am glad to see the students and staff effectively apply key SGSecure advisories such as “Run, Hide, Tell” and “Press, Tie and Tell”. It shows that many in the NUS community are ready to play their role. Exercises like the one today are important as they provide avenues to put our emergency preparedness skills and knowledge into practice. When our community is prepared, vigilant, and united, we can respond swiftly and effectively to any threat, and collectively keep Singapore safe and secure.” 

Every member of the community, including organisations, has a role to play in keeping Singapore safe against terrorism. Organisations can enhance the safety and security of their staff and premises by becoming SaferSG partners. As SaferSG partners, organisations can participate in the Workplace on Watch programme and receive the latest crime information, alerts and advisories from the Police that can be disseminated to employees and stakeholders to strengthen their awareness of prevailing crime trends and security developments. Organisations can also facilitate sharing sessions by the Police during their events. The community can get more information through the ‘SaferSG, Together’ web portal (https://www.police.gov.sg/Community-Engagement/SaferSG-Together).

Anyone with information on suspicious persons or activities can contact the Internal Security Department at 1800-2626-473 or the Police at 999, SMS to 70999, or submit the information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness or report it via the SGSecure mobile application. Prompt and decisive action during a terror attack is imperative as the repercussions extend beyond the primary attack and may significantly undermine our social cohesion. It is thus essential to cultivate community resilience during peacetime. Timely intervention by the community can mitigate devastating outcomes, preserve lives, and maintain the security of our homeland. For more information on how you can contribute to our fight against terrorism, please visit @SGSecureOfficial on Instagram, TikTok or the SGSecure website (www.sgsecure.gov.sg).

Group Photo of Exercise Heartbeat participants with MOS Goh Pei Ming

Photo of simulated terror attack

Photo of students administering IFAS

Photo of SPF ERT and SOC officers neutralising the attack

Photo of SPF ERT officers neutralising the attack

Photo of SCDF autonomous robot fighting fire