How tactical capabilities and close coordination between public agencies and community partners help foil a terror attack.
By: Mike Tan
Dance the night away, safe in the knowledge that our dedicated officers are on hand to keep Singapore safe and secure…
Among the highlights of Singapore’s musical calendar are concerts at the Singapore Sports Hub. This popular venue regularly hosts performers that draw large crowds.
To maintain its operational edge during such events, on 15 April 2025, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) conducted a counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness exercise called Exercise Heartbeat at the Singapore Sports Hub. This edition of Exercise Heartbeat was also supported by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), in close collaboration with Kallang Alive Sport Management Co Pte Ltd.
The Exercise began with a simulated terror attack by armed men at the concert venue. As people fled the stands, Ground Response Force officers arrived swiftly onsite and confronted the attackers, neutralising the threat.
The response by staff of the Singapore Sports Hub was equally strong, with security officers following SGSecure “Run, Hide, Tell” protocols by ushering spectators away from harm in a calm and orderly manner.
But the calm was short-lived as a second group of armed attackers took to the stands. They were quickly subdued by Emergency Response Team (ERT) officers.
Outside the concert venue, another attacker pressed on by igniting an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hidden inside a vehicle. ERT officers arrived on the scene to arrest the attacker.
With the area secure, security staff applied improvised first aid techniques such as “Press, Tie, Tell” before the arrival of SCDF officers. These actions demonstrated how trained members of the community can save lives during a crisis.
As SCDF officers provided further attention to those who’d been injured by the blast, officers from the SAF’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group also successfully neutralised an on-site IED.
This edition of Exercise Heartbeat was also the first one to showcase how Post-Blast Investigations are a crucial part of the SPF’s operational capabilities. Examining the exploded vehicle for investigative leads, specially trained officers conducted a forensic examination of the scene to document it and recover critical evidence.
As Exercise Heartbeat concluded, it demonstrated once again the capabilities and close coordination between public agencies and community partners in responding to a terror attack.
Exercise Heartbeat (April 2025)
Want to learn more about how you can help keep Singapore safe from terrorism? Check out the SGSecure website.
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