Mrs Judith Francis-Wertenbroch stood on the balcony of her apartment in Upper Bukit Timah on Wednesday night, looking out at the dark trees lining the street all the way to Clementi. Looking into the distance, she could make out the tiny shimmering lights of Marina Bay Sands.

But her mind was not on the peaceful scene before her. Instead, the American was remembering another time, 18 years ago, when she escaped the single deadliest terrorist attack in history.