Counter-terrorism in Singapore

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Counter-terrorism in Singapore is a series of detection and prevention measures to minimize the damage caused by terrorism. These measures involve the participation of all levels of society, including defence, internal security, border and infrastructure security, civil defense, and gives special focus on areas such as medical readiness and psychological preparedness.

Contents

Strategy

Singapore's main counter-terrorism strategy includes cooperation with regional and international partners to achieve a transnational landscape of security. Singapore is instrumental in the passage of international initiatives such as the landmark United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 which established the legal basis for international action against terrorism. [1] It is also at the forefront of the Southeast Asian counter-terrorism efforts [2] and a United States partner in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) that aims to combat the illicit trade and spread of weapons of mass destruction. [3]

In recent years,[ when? ] Singapore's counter-terrorism initiatives have created political criticism from the country's Muslim population. [4] This was particularly pronounced when Singapore joined the international community's call for Iraq's disarmament, which eventually led to the American invasion of the country.

History

1974: First international terrorism incident

Sngapore's first encounter with international terrorism was on 31 January 1974. On that day, four armed men from the terrorist groups Japanese Red Army and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine attacked the Shell oil refinery complex on Pulau Bukom and later hijacked the ferryboat Laju and took its five crew members hostage. The hijacking incident was resolved after the Singapore government exchanged the hostages with four commandos from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and eight other local government officials and was led by S. R. Nathan, Director of the Security and Intelligence Division (SID) at the Ministry of Defence, and provided the terrorists safe passage to the Middle East. [5] [6]

1975–1990: Establishment of anti-terrorism units and Total Defence

The Laju hijacking incident in 1974 contributed to the establishment of full-time National Service for the country's police force in 1975, one year after the incident, referred to as Police National Service (PNS), which was aimed at, initially, raising a sizeable source of manpower for the police in the event of another terrorist incident on vital installations and the provision of protection and security for the latter against the former. [7]

It also led to the establishment of an anti-terrorism team which was renamed as the Special Operations Force (SOF) in 1984. [8]

In 1984, Total Defence was officially proclaimed as Singapore's overarching defence strategy on 22 January 1984 with five elements: military, civil, economic, social, and psychological. [9] [10]

In May 1990, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) formed the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) by merging its Rescue Squad and MRT Task Force. [11] The first batch of DART consisted of an amalgamation of rescuers who were previously qualified for either of the units. [12]

1991–2000: Singapore Airline hijack and formation of the Special Operations Command

On 26 March 1991, four Pakistanis hijacked Singapore Airlines Flight 117 which had taken off from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with 114 passengers and 11 crew on board. [13] The plane was hijacked in mid-air while en route to Singapore Changi Airport and landed safely in Singapore. The Pakistani demanded the release of Pakistan Peoples Party members from Pakistani jails and the plane to be refuelled to fly to Australia. [14] The next day, SOF commandos stormed the plane, killing all hijackers and freeing all passengers and crew members. [15]

On 10 September 1992, the Special Operations Command (SOC) was formed, combining the Police Tactical Team (PTT), Police Tactical Unit (PTU) and Police Dog Unit under one wing.

2001–2009: Failed Singapore embassies attack plot and Exercise Northstar

On 9 December 2001, six members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) were arrested for the Singapore embassies attack plot. [16] Muhammad Aslam Yar Ali Khan, who is a Singaporean citizen of Pakistani descent and had made claims of having ties with Al-Qaeda. Khan was captured by United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan officials. His interrogation led investigators to the Singaporean cell. Six people were arrested during the raid on 9 December with a further nine people within a month of the raid.

In August 2002, 19 members of JI, alongside two members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), were arrested in Singapore. [17] The JI plotted to blame the attacks on Singapore to Malaysia to create the impression that Singaporeans of Chinese descent were targeting Malays and Muslims in Malaysia to trigger a jihad in both countries. [18] As of 11 November 2005, 36 alleged members of JI or MILF were detained under the Internal Security Act. [19]

In late 2002 to early 2003, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group was formed by the Singapore Armed Forces to handle various chemical and biological attacks. [20] On 17 January 2003, It conducted Exercise Diamond Shield at Nee Soon Camp to demonstrate its chemical and biological defence capability. [21]

In May 2003, Chemical Verification Laboratory at DSO National Laboratories was certified by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons as a designated laboratory for the testing of chemical warfare agents. [22]

On 25 August 2005, French investigating magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguière singles out Singapore along with Tokyo and Sydney as potential terrorism targets of the Al-Qaeda. [25] The Ministry of Home Affairs responded that it had not received any specific information on terrorist threat but added that security measures have been taken to strengthen security at borders, key infrastructure and iconic buildings. [26] [27]

2010s

In 2019, digital defence was added as the sixth element of Total Defence, with the government highlighting increasing threats in the cybersphere. [39]

2020s

Homeland security

The Singapore Police Force has in recent years enhanced security at various locations in the country.

On 15 August 2005, the newly established Public Transport Security Command began operational patrols on the Mass Rapid Transit network to protect the public transportation system. Personnel from the Special Operations Command (SOC) and the Gurkha Contingent (GC) have also been deployed to complement other police officers on patrol. In addition, the Police Coast Guard (PCG) stepped up its effort to inspect ferries and other vessels in Singapore territorial waters.

On 26 October 2005, Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for Security and Defence S Jayakumar announced that Singapore was developing an early warning system, called the risk assessment and horizon scanning, to identify and assess new emerging threats to national security. The system, developed by the National Security Coordination Secretariat, will be put in place by mid-2007. [51]

Counter terrorist specialised units

At the forefront in the fight against terrorism are specialised military, law enforcement, and civil defence units, namely:

Exercise Northstar

Exercise Northstar V

In December 2005, Exercise Northstar V, a large scale emergency preparedness exercise, was announced. [52] The exercise was intended to educate the public and to train emergency personnel to handle multiple incidents concurrently. [53]

On 8 January 2006, Exercise Northstar V was conducted on four MRT stations (Raffles Place, Dhoby Ghaut, Toa Payoh and Marina Bay) and one bus interchange (Toa Payoh). The exercise involved a simulated terrorist bomb attack with 500 mock casualties suffering from "injuries" caused by the "explosions" as well as chemical agents. The exercise involved 22 agencies and 2,000 emergency personnel participated in the exercise. The exercise is the largest civil emergency exercise ever staged in the country. [54]

Conduct of the exercise

The exercise started at 6:25 am local time on 8 January 2006, a Sunday, and lasted about three hours. To avoid public panic, announcements were made at the affected train stations as well as on television and radio, just before the exercise began. Prominent signages were also displayed.

Mock explosive devices, such as thunderflashes were detonated near-simultaneously in subway trains and station platforms at four MRT stations (Dhoby Ghaut, Toa Payoh, Raffles Place and Marina Bay) and in a double decker bus at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange. A chemical agent attack was then simulated at Dhoby Ghaut at 6:45 am. An undetonated mock bomb was also placed at the Raffles Place. About 3,400 commuters who were on board the subway trains were evacuated during the drill. Services at 13 MRT stations were temporarily disrupted and roads within the vicinity were also closed to traffic. Shuttle buses were used to ferry commuters affected by the exercise.

Thunderflashes, smoke generators, and fire simulators were used to simulate the explosion and 500 simulated casualties were deployed to test emergency rescuers at the scene. These mock casualties carried tags to provide paramedics information on the extent of their injuries and this includes injuries related to bomb blasts, such as open wounds and burns. There were also some with injuries related to chemical agents. Dummy mannequins were also used to simulate casualties. 7 hospitals and 2 polyclinics were also involved in the drill as they received the mock casualties. In two hospitals, Singapore General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, healthcare workers donned decontamination suits as they prepared to treat victims of chemical agents suspected to be sarin gas. [55]

Officers from the London Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police, including Chief Constable Ian Johnston, were present to observe the exercise and to provide feedback to the authorities. [56]

Social cohesion

Following the crackdown on the local Jemaah Islamiyah cell, then-Deputy-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong held dialogues with the leaders of the Muslim community. Details of the investigation were shared to explain that the arrests were not targeted at the Singapore Muslim community, or Islam. In schools and workplaces, inter-racial confidence circles were formed to promote inter-racial and inter-religious understanding between the different racial and religious communities, while Islamic scholars and counselors in Singapore participated in the rehabilitation of the detained JI members.

See also

References

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