Cyclist hit by bullet slug: Safety rules followed during live firing at Nee Soon range, says Mindef
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The cyclist was in a restricted area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve when he was hit.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
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SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on June 23 that safety protocols were followed at the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) live-firing range in Nee Soon when a cyclist was hit by a bullet slug near the area on June 15.
It added that live firing will resume with immediate effect, and the next scheduled live firing at the range will take place on June 26.
The ministry said in its June 23 update on the case that based on the SAF’s investigation, all relevant training directives, safety protocols and control measures were adhered to during the live-firing activity.
The weapons, ammunition, shooting positions and target placements were also in compliance with the SAF’s stipulated guidelines, it added.
The 42-year-old man was hit in an area gazetted for SAF live firing around the Nee Soon 500m range while cycling with his friends in a restricted area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, between the Upper Seletar and Upper Peirce reservoirs.
At the time of the incident, an authorised live-firing activity was being conducted by the SAF at the range, which was about 2.3 km away.
In its statement on June 23, Mindef said the range was designed and built in accordance with international range safety standards and certified for the firing of weapons such as general-purpose machine guns and sniper rifles.
The cyclist, seen here in an undated photo, did not initially disclose to the police and National University Hospital that he had been riding near the Nee Soon live-firing range.
PHOTO: SOCIAL MEDIA
It added that beyond the stop butt of the range, the restricted area provides a necessary safety buffer, catering to scenarios such as ammunition ricochet. This was determined through trials and trajectory simulations that match the live-firing activities at the range.
“The SAF maintains a robust safety framework to ensure the safe conduct of live-firing activities and will continue to work with the National Parks Board to ensure safety measures and public warnings regarding restricted areas remain in place,” said Mindef.
“The SAF seeks the public’s cooperation in staying out of restricted areas for live firing for their own safety. Trespassing into such areas is also a violation under the Military Manoeuvres Act.”
The cyclist involved in the incident is under investigation for the offence of wilful trespass
Last week, The Straits Times learnt that the cyclist and his friends may have taken steps to conceal from the authorities the route they took on June 15.
ST found on June 17 that there are prominent signs around the park warning of a live-firing area and alerting visitors to keep clear
