The following article talks about conducting exercise for MRT
and or bus bombings by terrorists. But don't they know that
terrorists may instead use germ or bacterial agents (as in germ
warfare/biological warfare) which is harder to detect?
Furthermore, what's stopping terrorists from bombing ordinary HDB
flats instead of the heavily guarded MRT stations?
What they are doing is like fully focusing on the front door
security while the backdoor is wide open.
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Singapore plans emergency exercise for MRT, bus bombings
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : Singapore's civil emergency agencies are going to test
their readiness to respond to multiple bomb attacks at MRT stations
and bus interchanges.
A major exercise will be held over the weekend in the first two
weeks of January next year, but the public will not be told in
advance of the exact date, time and the venues.
Terrorist attacks on public transport networks in Madrid and London
are a grim reminder that Singapore's transport network is just as
vulnerable.
In fact, since the attacks, security has been beefed up at the
train stations and bus interchanges.
January's exercise, involving more than 20 agencies, will test how
quickly and effectively they can respond and get the public to
cooperate should simultaneous bomb attacks occur on Singapore's
train and bus networks.
Said Eric Yap, director of operations at SCDF, "It is important for
the public to understand the kind of instructions that will be
shared with them at the point when the service is disrupted and
also the instruction for them to evacuate themselves to
safety."
Among the scenarios to be tested are an explosion inside the train
in a tunnel, an explosion at the train platform, a chemical attack
at the train station and an explosion on a double-decker bus.
Civil Defence Commissioner James Tan said, "For the commuters
involved in the trains and tunnels, they may experience momentarily
some blackout situations, but they don't have to worry. We will
have guides; we will have officials to guide them out of the
tunnels."
A sense of realism will be injected into the civil emergency
exercise, which will simulate a series of bomb attacks at four MRT
stations and a bus interchange.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force says when that happens, some MRT
stations may have to be closed for a while.
There will also be MRT train disruptions which will extend beyond
the affected stations.
And there will be ample announcements both within the stations over
the broadcast media to inform the public of these
inconveniences.
Both SMRT and SBS Transit will be deploying their staff to assist
in the evacuation and to direct commuters to alternative transport
services like shuttle buses.
Said Kang Huey Ling, deputy director (station operations) at SMRT
Corporation, "Our staff are all first-aid trained. If there are any
passengers who are not well, we will assist them
immediately."
Civil Defence Commissioner Tan stressed that while commuters would
face some inconveniences during the exercise, there is nothing like
being prepared and well-honed for an actual event. - CNA /ct
