"Exercise Heartbeat” a counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness exercise, was held at the Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre on 15 February 2025, simulating a terror attack at a heartland area by self-radicalised individuals. The exercise was organised by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), supported by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
"Exercise Heartbeat" builds on the close collaboration between Home Team agencies and community partners to increase preparedness against terror attacks, in support of SGSecure and Exercise SG Ready1 . This is the first time that the exercise is held at a hawker centre, and is a reminder that community partners should periodically review their security measures, familiarise themselves with and validate their contingency plans, to enhance their readiness to respond to an emergency. Community members such as premise owners and hawkers play a vital role in the fight against crime and terrorism by being our eyes and ears on the ground. They are encouraged to participate in the SPF’s Safety and Security Watch Group (SSWG) Scheme to equip themselves with the relevant SGSecure knowledge and skillsets, to respond effectively during a crisis.
The exercise adopted a "show and tell" format, simulating a terror attack scenario at Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre. Against the backdrop of terrorists exploiting a planned cyberattack on the national power grid, a small splinter group of terrorists set fire to a vehicle near a hawker centre as a diversion and used weapons for close-quarter attacks on the lunchtime crowd to maximise casualties. This scenario saw the SPF, SCDF and community stakeholders working closely together to respond to the attacks. The SSWG members - hawkers trained by the SPF and SCDF in emergency skills - played a crucial role, showcasing key SGSecure advisories like "Run, Hide, Tell" and "Press, Tie, Tell" (improvised first aid) before the arrival of emergency services. The hawkers' swift action demonstrated how trained community members can save lives and minimise casualties during crises.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ang Eng Seng, Commander of Woodlands Division said, “Today's exercise demonstrated our multi-agency approach to counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness. The seamless coordination between the Home Team, together with partners such as MINDEF, Marsiling Mall and its hawker centre, showcased our readiness to respond to potential threats and disruptions. All of us play an important role in enhancing our community’s resilience and social cohesion. Together, we build a stronger and more secure Singapore.”
Every member of the community has a role to play in keeping Singapore safe against terrorism by remaining vigilant. Anyone with information on suspicious persons or activities can contact the Internal Security Department at 1800-2626-473 or the Police at 999, SMS to 70999, or submit the information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness or report it via the SGSecure mobile application. Acting quickly is crucial, as the impact of a terror attack extends beyond the immediate point of attack and can affect our social fabric adversely. We must build community resilience to lay a strong foundation during peacetime. The community’s timely action can help prevent catastrophic outcomes, save lives and keep our home safe. For more information on how you can contribute to our fight against terrorism, please visit the @SGSecureOfficial Instagram or SGSecure website (www.sgsecure.gov.sg).
1Exercise SG Ready (ESR) is co-led by MINDEF and the Energy Market Authority. This year, ESR focuses on enhancing awareness about what to do during power disruptions and strengthening business continuity plans to deal with phishing attacks or power disruptions.
[Photo of SPF Ground Response Force officers engaging the armed subjects]▼
Photo of simulation of terror attack▼
Photo of community responders performing "Press, Tie, Tell" Improvised First Aid Skills▼
Photo of SPF Emergency Response Team officers neutralising the attack and SCDF officers conducting facilitated rescue▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
15 February 2025 @ 6:00 PM