Counter-terrorism in Singapore
Encyclopedia
Counter-terrorism in Singapore is a series of measures implemented in Singapore
to detect and prevent terrorism
, and to minimise damage from such terrorist acts should they occur. These measures involve all levels of society, including defence
, internal security
, border and infrastructure security, civil defence, medical readiness, and psychological preparedness. Singapore also participates actively in international counterterrorism efforts. Singapore has not experienced terrorism since 1991.
These are the events related to terrorism and counter-terrorism in Singapore. Also listed are major terrorist incidents in the world and in Southeast Asia
that have influenced counter-terrorism policies in Singapore.
by Indonesia
n saboteurs killed 3 people, during the konfrontasi period.
and Abu Sayyaf
. Jemaah Islamiah is known to have carried the Bali bombing in 2002
, which has killed 202 people, as well as the Jakarta bombing in 2004
outside the Australian embassy, killing 11 people.
After the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, an informant revealed to the Singapore Internal Security Department
regarding Muhammad Aslam Yar Ali Khan, a Singaporean of Pakistan
i descent, who was a member of a group partnered with Al-Qaeda. Muhammad Aslam Yar Ali Khan was placed under surveillance by Singapore Internal Security Department, after which he left for Pakistan
on 4 October. This man was captured by Afghan Northern Alliance forces in Afghanistan
. His interrogation led investigators to more Jemaah Islamiah members in Singapore.
On 9 December 2001, 13 suspects were arrested. Soon after that, a video found in an abandoned house in Kabul
, Afghanistan
showed a narrator in Singapore describing how to attack Americans using explosives. Investigators found similar tapes at the residences of the arrested men. In all, 33 men were arrested in relation to this plot
. http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020126ft.htm
In August 2002, another 21 members of Jemaah Islamiyah were arrested, demolishing JI's Singaporean cell. Arrests were also made in Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. As of 11 November 2005, 36 alleged members of JI or the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
were being detained under the Internal Security Act
.
However, Singapore believes that Jemaah Islamiyah remains active in Southeast Asia and is recruiting new members.
On 25 August 2005, French investigating magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguière
singled out Singapore along with Tokyo and Sydney as potential terrorism targets of the Al-Qaeda
. http://news.ft.com/cms/s/33cb0c4c-15a8-11da-8085-00000e2511c8.html The Ministry of Home Affairs
later responded that it had not received any specific information on imminent terrorist threat against Singapore, but added that security measures have been taken to strengthen security at borders, key infrastructure and iconic buildings. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/165133/1/.html
has in recent years enhanced security at various locations in the country.
On 15 August 2005, the newly established Police MRT Unit
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.
are specialised military, law enforcement, and civil defence units, namely:
. A selected group of about 2,000 SAF personnel will be trained to perform security operations in designated areas. These personnel, identified by a Military Security identification card, will be able to search, detain and use reasonable force against terror suspects.
. The exercise is the largest civil emergency exercise ever staged in the country.
The exercise is prompted by the recent terrorist attacks on public transport in other countries, namely the 7 July 2005 London bombings
and the Madrid train bombings on 11 March 2004
, which raise security concerns in public infrastructure. Singapore was the target of the foiled plan
by Jemaah Islamiyah
to bomb embassies and other installations.
The scenario of the exercise is similar to the London bombings
with near-simultaneous bomb blasts in the trains and a bus. Earlier, officers from the Singapore Police Force
were sent to London
to study the British responses to the bombings.
The public were pre-warned that the exercise would be held during a weekend in January 2006 and the participating agencies were given as many as six months to prepare. However, the exact date, time and locations of the exercise were not disclosed until 15 minutes before the drill commenced.
However, there were some public complaints of authorities' overzealous enforcement of rules. One recent example involved airport security officers detaining a family of four for using the word "bomb" in Singapore Changi Airport
. The family later published an account of how they were detained wrongly online and it sparked a public controversy. See http://spawnily.livejournal.com/413020.html.
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 MRT Station
at 6:45 am. An undetonated mock bomb was also placed at the Raffles Place MRT Station
. 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 these 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.
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.
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.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
to detect and prevent terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, and to minimise damage from such terrorist acts should they occur. These measures involve all levels of society, including defence
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
, internal security
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
, border and infrastructure security, civil defence, medical readiness, and psychological preparedness. Singapore also participates actively in international counterterrorism efforts. Singapore has not experienced terrorism since 1991.
Timeline
- See also: Timeline of Singaporean historyTimeline of Singaporean historyThis is a timeline of the history of Singapore. For more detailed annual listings, see List of years in Singapore.-Before 1800:* 3rd century – Early Chinese account of Singapore describes the island of "Pu Luo Chung"....
These are the events related to terrorism and counter-terrorism in Singapore. Also listed are major terrorist incidents in the world and in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
that have influenced counter-terrorism policies in Singapore.
1965
10 March - MacDonald House bombingMacDonald House bombing
The MacDonald House bombing occurred on 10 March 1965, at the then Hongkong and Shanghai Bank building along Orchard Road of Singapore. The time bomb was planted by a duo of Indonesian saboteurs, during the period of Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation...
by Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n saboteurs killed 3 people, during the konfrontasi period.
1984
- Concept of Total DefenceTotal DefenceTotal Defence is the name of Singapore's comprehensive defence strategy, adapted from countries like Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria...
is introduced. - The Singapore Special Operations ForceSingapore Special Operations ForceThe Special Operations Force is a special forces unit in the Commando Formation of the Singapore Army and a component of the joint Special Operations Task Force. It specialises in operations such as direct action, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and special reconnaissance, and is one of the few...
(SOF) is formed in secret.
1991
- 26 March - Four PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
is hijack Singapore Airlines Flight 117Singapore Airlines Flight 117On March 26, 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked in flight by four male passengers who claimed to be Pakistanis. The aircraft landed at Singapore...
and demand the release of Pakistan Peoples PartyPakistan Peoples PartyThe Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
members from Pakistani jails. - 27 March - Members of the Singapore Special Operations ForceSingapore Special Operations ForceThe Special Operations Force is a special forces unit in the Commando Formation of the Singapore Army and a component of the joint Special Operations Task Force. It specialises in operations such as direct action, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and special reconnaissance, and is one of the few...
storm Singapore Airlines Flight 117Singapore Airlines Flight 117On March 26, 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked in flight by four male passengers who claimed to be Pakistanis. The aircraft landed at Singapore...
, killing all hijackers and freeing all passengers and crew members.
1992
- 10 September - Special Operations CommandSpecial Operations Command (Singapore)The Special Operations Command is a frontline unit of the Singapore Police Force grouping together various specialist units into a single strategic reserve of the regular forces to be called upon in any contingency and serious case of public disorder.Today, the unit is composed of:The SOC also...
(SOC) is formed, combining the Police Tactical TeamSpecial Tactics and Rescue (Singapore)The Special Tactics and Rescue is the elite Special Operations SWAT of the Singapore Police Force. Its official task is to provide the Singapore Police Force with a tactical armed-response capability, and its motto is "Vigilance, Valour, Victory"....
(PTT), Police Tactical UnitPolice Tactical Unit (Singapore)The Police Tactical Unit is a paramilitary specialist unit of the Singapore Police Force and comes under the direct command of the Special Operations Command. Based in Queenstown, it is the main anti-rioting and disaster-management unit of the police force. They are also called upon to handle...
(PTU) and Police Dog Unit under one wing.
2001
- 11 September- September 11 attacks in the United States
- 9 December - 15 militants of Jemaah IslamiyahJemaah IslamiyahJemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
are arrested for the Singapore embassies attack plotSingapore embassies attack plotThe Singapore embassies attack plot was a plan in 2001 by Jemaah Islamiyah to bomb the diplomatic missions and attack personnel of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Israel based in Singapore. There were also several other targets. The plot was uncovered in December 2001 and as...
http://www2.mha.gov.sg/mha/detailed.jsp?artid=667&type=4&root=0&parent=0&cat=0&mode=arc
2002
- August - Singapore arrests another 21 members of Jemaah IslamiyahJemaah IslamiyahJemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
. - 12 October - Bali car bombing2002 Bali bombingThe 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was claimed as the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia according to the current police general, killing 202 people,...
by Jemaah Islamiah kills 202 people in the IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n island.
2003
- 17 January - Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence GroupChemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence GroupThe Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group is a group formed by various Singapore Armed Forces units to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities and provide an immediate response in the event of chemical and biological incidents.The CBRE Group also works closely with the...
conducts Exercise Diamond Shield to demonstrate chemical and biological defence capability. - March - Chemical Verification Laboratory is certified by Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical WeaponsOrganisation for the Prohibition of Chemical WeaponsThe Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is an intergovernmental organization, located in The Hague, Netherlands. The organization promotes and verifies the adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention which prohibits of the use of chemical weapons and requires their destruction...
(OPCW) as a designated laboratory for the testing of chemical warfareChemical warfareChemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
agents - 11 August - Riduan IsamuddinRiduan IsamuddinRiduan Isamuddin also transliterated as Riduan Isamudin, Riduan Isomuddin, and Riduan Isomudin, better known by the nom de guerre Hambali, born as Encep Nurjaman, born April 4, 1964 is the former military leader of the Indonesian terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah , which is linked with Al...
(Hambali), leader of Jemaah IslamiyahJemaah IslamiyahJemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
, is arrested in ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. - 14 August - Air Marshal Unit is formed to counter terrorism threats against civil aviation http://www.singapore-window.org/sw03/030814af.htm
- 1 October - The first Special Rescue Battalion of the Singapore Civil Defence ForceSingapore Civil Defence ForceThe Singapore Civil Defence Force is the main agency in charge of the provision of emergency services in Singapore during peacetime and emergency.A uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the main role of SCDF is to provide...
is formed http://www.scdf.gov.sg/html/abtus/abt09_milestones_2003-2004.html
2004
- 27 February - SuperFerry 14SuperFerry 14The 2004 SuperFerry 14 bombing on February 27, 2004, was an Islamic terrorist attack that resulted in the sinking of the ferry SuperFerry 14 and the deaths of 116 people in the Philippines' deadliest terrorist attack and the world's deadliest terrorist attack at sea...
is bombed in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
by Abu SayyafAbu SayyafAbu Sayyaf also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya is one of several military Islamist separatist groups based in and around the southern Philippines, in Bangsamoro where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for an independent province in the country...
, killing 116. - 11 March - Coordinated bombing of commuter trains11 March 2004 Madrid train bombingsThe Madrid train bombings consisted of a series of coordinated bombings against the Cercanías system of Madrid, Spain on the morning of 11 March 2004 , killing 191 people and wounding 1,800...
in MadridMadridMadrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, kills 191 people and injures more than 1,500. - 21 March - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad BadawiAbdullah Ahmad BadawiTun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
leads UMNO to a resounding victory in the General ElectionsMalaysian general election, 2004General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
, checking the advance of Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) that aims to establish Malaysia as an Islamist theocratic country. - 6 May - Prime Minister Goh Chok TongGoh Chok TongGoh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
delivers a speech at the Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign RelationsThe Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
titled "Beyond Madrid: Winning Against Terrorism". http://www.cfr.org/publication.html?id=7004
2005
- 7 July - London suicide bombings7 July 2005 London bombingsThe 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
on one double-decker busDouble-decker busA double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
(London Buses route 30London Buses route 30London Buses route 30 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:Route 30 commenced operation on 8 May 1911 between Kings Cross and Fulham Cross...
) and three London UndergroundLondon UndergroundThe London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
trains, killing 55+ people and injuring over 700. - 15 August - The newly established Police MRT Unit (now known as the Public Transport Security Command) begins operational patrols on the Mass Rapid TransitMass Rapid Transit (Singapore)The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
network to enhance the security of Singapore's public transport - 15 August - Singapore hosts a multi-national maritime interdiction exercise, codename Exercise Deep SabreExercise Deep SabreExercise Deep Sabre is a multi-national maritime interdiction exercise conducted in August 2005 in South China Sea.Launched at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore, the exercise is part of the Proliferation Security Initiative...
as part of the Proliferation Security InitiativeProliferation Security InitiativeThe Proliferation Security Initiative is a global effort that aims to stop trafficking of weapons of mass destruction , their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. Launched by United States President George W...
. - 25 August - French investigating magistrate Jean-Louis BruguièreJean-Louis BruguièreJean-Louis Bruguière was the leading French investigating magistrate in charge of counter-terrorism affairs. He was appointed in 2004 vice-president of the Paris Court of Serious Claims . He has garnered controversy for various acts, including the indictment of Rwandan president Paul Kagame for the...
singles out Singapore along with TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
as potential terrorism targets of the Al-QaedaAl-QaedaAl-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. http://news.ft.com/cms/s/33cb0c4c-15a8-11da-8085-00000e2511c8.html Ministry of Home AffairsMinistry of Home Affairs (Singapore)The Ministry of Home Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for public safety, civil defence and immigration. It is also known as the Home Team. It is headed by the Minister for Home Affairs....
later denied receiving any specific information on imminent terrorist threat.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/165133/1/.html - 1 October - A series of explosions2005 Bali bombingsThe 2005 Bali bombings were a series of terrorist suicide bomb and a series of car bombs and attacks that occurred on October 1, 2005, in Bali, Indonesia. Bombs exploded at two sites in Jimbaran Beach Resort and in Kuta away, both in south Bali. The terrorist attack claimed the lives of 20 people...
kills at least 23 in resort areas of Jimbaran Beach and Kuta in BaliBaliBali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. - 21 November - 25 - Singapore hosts the Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism ConferenceRegional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism ConferenceThe Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference is an annual event participated by various armed forces and counter-terrorism agencies in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The conference provides participants the opportunity to share professional insights and discuss ways to enhance...
.
2006
- 8 January - Exercise Northstar V, a large scale civil defence exercise, is held in Singapore.
Arrest of Jemaah Islamiah members
The main terrorist threat to Singapore is from Jemaah Islamiah (JI), which has links to al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya is one of several military Islamist separatist groups based in and around the southern Philippines, in Bangsamoro where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for an independent province in the country...
. Jemaah Islamiah is known to have carried the Bali bombing in 2002
2002 Bali bombing
The 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was claimed as the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia according to the current police general, killing 202 people,...
, which has killed 202 people, as well as the Jakarta bombing in 2004
2004 Jakarta embassy bombing
The 2004 Australian embassy bombing took place on 9 September 2004 in Jakarta, Indonesia.A one-tonne car bomb, which was packed into a small Daihatsu delivery van, exploded outside the Australian embassy at Kuningan District, South Jakarta, at about 10:30 local time , killing 9 people including...
outside the Australian embassy, killing 11 people.
After the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, an informant revealed to the Singapore Internal Security Department
Internal Security Department
The Internal Security Department is a domestic intelligence agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore. It was formerly part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence until it was split on 11 August 1970...
regarding Muhammad Aslam Yar Ali Khan, a Singaporean of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i descent, who was a member of a group partnered with Al-Qaeda. Muhammad Aslam Yar Ali Khan was placed under surveillance by Singapore Internal Security Department, after which he left for Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
on 4 October. This man was captured by Afghan Northern Alliance forces in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. His interrogation led investigators to more Jemaah Islamiah members in Singapore.
On 9 December 2001, 13 suspects were arrested. Soon after that, a video found in an abandoned house in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
showed a narrator in Singapore describing how to attack Americans using explosives. Investigators found similar tapes at the residences of the arrested men. In all, 33 men were arrested in relation to this plot
Singapore embassies attack plot
The Singapore embassies attack plot was a plan in 2001 by Jemaah Islamiyah to bomb the diplomatic missions and attack personnel of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Israel based in Singapore. There were also several other targets. The plot was uncovered in December 2001 and as...
. http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020126ft.htm
In August 2002, another 21 members of Jemaah Islamiyah were arrested, demolishing JI's Singaporean cell. Arrests were also made in Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. As of 11 November 2005, 36 alleged members of JI or the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
were being detained under the Internal Security Act
Internal Security Act (Singapore)
The Internal Security Act of Singapore is a law that allows the Singapore government to investigate security threats like international terrorism, foreign subversion, espionage and acts of violence or hatred using race or religion...
.
However, Singapore believes that Jemaah Islamiyah remains active in Southeast Asia and is recruiting new members.
On 25 August 2005, French investigating magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguière
Jean-Louis Bruguière
Jean-Louis Bruguière was the leading French investigating magistrate in charge of counter-terrorism affairs. He was appointed in 2004 vice-president of the Paris Court of Serious Claims . He has garnered controversy for various acts, including the indictment of Rwandan president Paul Kagame for the...
singled out Singapore along with Tokyo and Sydney as potential terrorism targets of the Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. http://news.ft.com/cms/s/33cb0c4c-15a8-11da-8085-00000e2511c8.html The Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)
The Ministry of Home Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for public safety, civil defence and immigration. It is also known as the Home Team. It is headed by the Minister for Home Affairs....
later responded that it had not received any specific information on imminent terrorist threat against Singapore, but added that security measures have been taken to strengthen security at borders, key infrastructure and iconic buildings. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/165133/1/.html
Homeland security
The Singapore Police ForceSingapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
has in recent years enhanced security at various locations in the country.
On 15 August 2005, the newly established Police MRT Unit
Police MRT Unit
The Public Transport Security Command ) is a specialised transit police unit of the Singapore Police Force. It was first established as a unit of the Special Operations Command under the name Police MRT Unit in 2005 in response to the need for greater security concerns in public transport...
began operational patrols on the Mass Rapid Transit
Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
network to protect the public transportation system. Personnel from the Special Operations Command
Special Operations Command (Singapore)
The Special Operations Command is a frontline unit of the Singapore Police Force grouping together various specialist units into a single strategic reserve of the regular forces to be called upon in any contingency and serious case of public disorder.Today, the unit is composed of:The SOC also...
(SOC) and the Gurkha Contingent
Gurkha Contingent
The Gurkha Contingent is a line department of the Singapore Police Force. Members of the GC are trained to be highly-skilled and are selected for their display of strong discipline and dedication in their tasks...
(GC) have also been deployed to complement other police officers on patrol. In addition, the Police Coast Guard
Police Coast Guard
The Police Coast Guard is the Marine Police division of the Singapore Police Force which also takes on roles of the coast guard typically handled by the military or as separate organisations in other countries...
(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
National security coordination secretariat
The National Security Coordination Secretariat is a construct of the Singapore Government set up in 1999 within the Ministry of Defence. It was tasked to strengthen coordination amongst Singapore's existing security agencies .-History:In 1999, the National Security Secretariat was set up to...
, will be put in place by mid-2007.
Counter terrorist specialised units
At the forefront in the fight against terrorismTerrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
are specialised military, law enforcement, and civil defence units, namely:
- Singapore Special Operations ForceSingapore Special Operations ForceThe Special Operations Force is a special forces unit in the Commando Formation of the Singapore Army and a component of the joint Special Operations Task Force. It specialises in operations such as direct action, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and special reconnaissance, and is one of the few...
, - Special Operations CommandSpecial Operations Command (Singapore)The Special Operations Command is a frontline unit of the Singapore Police Force grouping together various specialist units into a single strategic reserve of the regular forces to be called upon in any contingency and serious case of public disorder.Today, the unit is composed of:The SOC also...
, - Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence GroupChemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence GroupThe Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group is a group formed by various Singapore Armed Forces units to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities and provide an immediate response in the event of chemical and biological incidents.The CBRE Group also works closely with the...
Additional power to military
In May 2007, the parliament passed an amendment to the SAF Act, giving additional powers to the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
. A selected group of about 2,000 SAF personnel will be trained to perform security operations in designated areas. These personnel, identified by a Military Security identification card, will be able to search, detain and use reasonable force against terror suspects.
Exercise Northstar V
On 8 January 2006, a large scale emergency preparedness exercise was conducted. Codenamed Exercise Northstar V, it involved 22 agencies and 2,000 emergency personnel. An additional 3,400 commuters also participated in the exercise. The exercise involved a simulated terrorist bomb attack on four MRT stations and one bus interchange. There were 500 mock casualties suffering from "injuries" caused by the "explosions" as well as chemical agentsChemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
. The exercise is the largest civil emergency exercise ever staged in the country.
Objective
Exercise Northstar V is part of the counter-terrorism effort in Singapore, aiming to test the readiness, effectiveness and coordination of the relevant agencies in responding to civil emergency, in particular a large scale multi-location terrorist attack. The exercise also aimed to raise the psychological preparedness of the public in the event of a terrorist attack.The exercise is prompted by the recent terrorist attacks on public transport in other countries, namely the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
and the Madrid train bombings on 11 March 2004
11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings
The Madrid train bombings consisted of a series of coordinated bombings against the Cercanías system of Madrid, Spain on the morning of 11 March 2004 , killing 191 people and wounding 1,800...
, which raise security concerns in public infrastructure. Singapore was the target of the foiled plan
Singapore embassies attack plot
The Singapore embassies attack plot was a plan in 2001 by Jemaah Islamiyah to bomb the diplomatic missions and attack personnel of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Israel based in Singapore. There were also several other targets. The plot was uncovered in December 2001 and as...
by Jemaah Islamiyah
Jemaah Islamiyah
Jemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
to bomb embassies and other installations.
The scenario of the exercise is similar to the London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
with near-simultaneous bomb blasts in the trains and a bus. Earlier, officers from the Singapore Police Force
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
were sent to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to study the British responses to the bombings.
The public were pre-warned that the exercise would be held during a weekend in January 2006 and the participating agencies were given as many as six months to prepare. However, the exact date, time and locations of the exercise were not disclosed until 15 minutes before the drill commenced.
However, there were some public complaints of authorities' overzealous enforcement of rules. One recent example involved airport security officers detaining a family of four for using the word "bomb" in Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
. The family later published an account of how they were detained wrongly online and it sparked a public controversy. See http://spawnily.livejournal.com/413020.html.
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
Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station
Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station ' is a Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore, located at the eastern end of Orchard Road. Originally it was only a station on the North South Line but after the opening of the North East Line on 20 June 2003, it became the interchange station for these two lines...
, Toa Payoh
Toa Payoh MRT Station
Toa Payoh MRT Station is an underground station of the Mass Rapid Transit's North South Line in Singapore. It serves the Toa Payoh area...
, Raffles Place
Raffles Place MRT Station
Raffles Place MRT Station ' is a Mass Rapid Transit interchange station on the North South Line and the East West Line in Singapore. It is directly beneath the centre of the financial district of Raffles Place, located in the Downtown Core area, south of the Singapore River...
and Marina Bay
Marina Bay MRT Station
The Marina Bay MRT Station ' is the southern terminal station of the North South Line in Singapore. This station is located on reclaimed land and there are no developments surrounding it, and hence contrary to what the name implies, there exists a slight distance between the station and the actual...
) and in a double decker
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
bus at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange
Toa Payoh Bus Interchange
Toa Payoh Bus Interchange is located in Toa Payoh, Singapore. It is the first air-conditioned bus interchange in the country, which was completed in 2002 and officially opened by then Transport Minister, Yeo Cheow Tong, on 19 May 2002. The bus interchange has only services of SBS Transit and is...
. A chemical agent attack was then simulated at Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station
Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station
Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station ' is a Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore, located at the eastern end of Orchard Road. Originally it was only a station on the North South Line but after the opening of the North East Line on 20 June 2003, it became the interchange station for these two lines...
at 6:45 am. An undetonated mock bomb was also placed at the Raffles Place MRT Station
Raffles Place MRT Station
Raffles Place MRT Station ' is a Mass Rapid Transit interchange station on the North South Line and the East West Line in Singapore. It is directly beneath the centre of the financial district of Raffles Place, located in the Downtown Core area, south of the Singapore River...
. 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 these 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
Singapore General Hospital
The Singapore General Hospital is the largest and oldest hospital in Singapore, of which the foundation of its first building was laid in 1821....
and Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
The Tan Tock Seng Hospital is the second-largest hospital in Singapore after the Singapore General Hospital, but its accident and emergency department is the busiest in the country largely due to its geographically centralised location...
, healthcare workers donned decontamination
Decontamination
Decontamination is the process of cleansing the human body to remove contamination by hazardous materials including chemicals, radioactive substances, and infectious material...
suits as they prepared to treat victims of chemical agents suspected to be sarin
Sarin
Sarin, or GB, is an organophosphorus compound with the formula [2CHO]CH3PF. It is a colorless, odorless liquid, which is used as a chemical weapon. It has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction in UN Resolution 687...
gas.
Officers from the London Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police
British Transport Police
The British Transport Police is a special police force that polices those railways and light-rail systems in Great Britain for which it has entered into an agreement to provide such services...
, including Chief Constable Ian Johnston, were present to observe the exercise and to provide feedback to the authorities.
Social cohesion
Following the crackdown on the local Jemaah IslamiyahJemaah Islamiyah
Jemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
cell, then-Deputy-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
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
Inter-racial and religious confidence circle
An inter-racial and religious confidence circle is a group composed of leaders of different races and religions from a particular constituency in Singapore...
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.
External links
- White Paper - The Jemaah Islamiyah Arrests and The Threat of Terrorism, Singapore
- “Constructing” the Jemaah Islamiyah Terrorist: A Preliminary Inquiry (PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
) - Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Singapore, October 2004 - Maritime Couner-Terrorism: A Singapore Perspective (PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
) - Joshua Ho, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Singapore, 2004 - Beyond Madrid: Winning Against Terrorism - Speech by Goh Chok TongGoh Chok TongGoh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
at the Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign RelationsThe Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
(6 May 2004) - Funding Terrorism in Southeast Asia: The Financial Network of Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah (PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
) - National Bureau of Asian Research (December 2003) - Jemaah Islamiyah in South East Asia: Damaged but Still Dangerous - International Crisis GroupInternational Crisis GroupThe International Crisis Group is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts around the world through field-based analyses and high-level advocacy.-History:...
(26 August 2003) - Declaring JI a terror group is starting point in fight against terror: Dr Gunaratna - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(2 October 2005) - Asean leaders ink terrorism pact