SINGAPORE — Don’t be alarmed if you see policemen, immigration officers or army personnel out in full force at shopping malls or MRT stations on Monday (Oct 17), or if you hear gunshots late in the night.

On Monday morning, the Republic kicked off its largest counter-terrorism exercise, which will conclude at 4am on Tuesday. It will test and validate Singapore’s multi-agency response plan in the event of terrorist attacks.

Led by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), more than 3,200 personnel from the Home Team and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as well as over 50 volunteers from the People’s Association Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Civil Defence Lionhearters will be part of the exercise.

Conducted in two phases, the first phase simulates a situation of heightened alert, after Singapore receives information and intelligence threats pointing to an imminent attack on the country.

Shortly after the alert was received at 10am, Home Team and SAF personnel were dispatched at over 360 locations for land and border security patrols. Places where members of the public will see a heightened security measures include public transport nodes, commercial areas, residential heartlands and Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints.

Concurrently, the SAF started conducting refresher drills – also called “just in time” training – with its Island Defence Task Force (IDTF). These include weapon, baton and search-and-arrest drills. The men are also briefed of the rules of engagement when dealing with a suicide bomber or active shooter.

Notably, the SAF’s Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicle (PRV) was deployed alongside a Police Fast Response Car (FRC) at the Marina Bay Financial Centre for deterrence and as part of stepped up security measures late on Monday afternoon.

Phase 2, which will take place later on Monday night, involves a response to multiple terror situations unfolding at different locations at 10pm, when blanks, thunder flashes, and smoke simulators will be used.

To facilitate the conduct of the exercise, cordons will be set up within the exercise venues. Also, Tampines Central 5 and Bishan Place roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic, except authorised SPF, SAF and emergency vehicles.

Parking restrictions along the peripheral roads will be strictly enforced, said the police, so vehicles parked indiscriminately or causing obstruction will be towed away.

The SAF’s IDTF was established in 2001 when SAF soldiers were deployed to protect vital installations around Singapore to boost national security after the Sept 11 attacks in the US. Under this task force, soldiers from the SAF work closely with Home Team agencies such as SPF, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to protect key installations.

The SAF units activated for the joint patrols for Monday’s exercise are the 4th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (4 SIR), 5th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR), and 41st Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (41 SAR). The soldiers comprise both full-time national servicemen and regular servicemen. They are equipped with the integrated Load Bearing Vest (iLBV) with ballistic protection and helmet, an SAR 21 Assault Rifle, a Military Security Armband, a flexicuff, a baton torch, and communications equipment.