WWII video points to secret bio warfare studies in Singapore

Footage of activities in Outram Park by a branch of Japanese army's covert operations unit discovered

Slides from rare video footage of OKA 9420 activities showing staff (top) at work at the College of Medicine Building (above) in Outram Park. OKA 9420 was the Singapore branch of the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, a biological and chemical warfar
Slides from rare video footage of OKA 9420 activities showing staff (above) at work at the College of Medicine Building in Outram Park. OKA 9420 was the Singapore branch of the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, a biological and chemical warfare research and development operation. PHOTO: COURTESY OF LIM SHAO BIN
Slides from rare video footage of OKA 9420 activities showing staff (top) at work at the College of Medicine Building (above) in Outram Park. OKA 9420 was the Singapore branch of the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, a biological and chemical warfar
Slides from rare video footage of OKA 9420 activities showing staff at work at the College of Medicine Building (above) in Outram Park. OKA 9420 was the Singapore branch of the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, a biological and chemical warfare research and development operation. PHOTO: COURTESY OF LIM SHAO BIN
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Footage of secret World War II operations of a biological warfare branch in Singapore has been discovered recently.

The black-and-white film recording of OKA 9420 shows large, bubbling vials of liquids on high benches as well as Japanese personnel in white laboratory coats and what appears to be locals at work at the College of Medicine Building in Outram.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 26, 2019, with the headline WWII video points to secret bio warfare studies in Singapore. Subscribe