A government-wide exercise to test Singapore's counter-terrorist capabilities both on land and sea culminated on Wednesday with the simulation of a multi-pronged terrorist attack.
There to observe the exercise was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mr S Iswaran.
They saw, amongst other scenarios, Singapore's security forces storm a hijacked vessel approaching Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, as well as free hostages in a bus and take down armed terrorists at the ferry terminal.
Exercise Highcrest aims to test the operational capabilities of National Maritime Security System, a multi-agency maritime security watch group comprising the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Republic of Singapore Navy, Singapore Customs, and the Singapore Police Force. Involving some 1,600 personnel from over 20 national agencies and ministries, the exercise began on Oct 29 Oct and will end on Nov 7.
