Singapore police to step up security around Trump-Kim summit venues
Expect heightened security within the venues involved in the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore and the areas around them, said the police on Wednesday (6 June).
Describing the 12 June summit as one of “great international significance”, the Singapore Police Force’s director of operations department, Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) How Kwang Hwee, told reporters at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) HQ that it has been declared an “Enhanced Security Special Event” by the Minister for Home Affairs under the Public Order Act.
“The police, Home Team agencies, the Singapore Armed Forces and the auxiliary police forces will be deployed during the summit. We have been working closely with the security advanced teams of both countries (the US and North Korea) to develop and put in place plans for the summit,” said SAC How.
The police will be conducting security checks and screenings on persons, vehicles, and vessels entering and around the areas of the summit, now designated as “Enhanced Security Special Event Areas”, from 10 to 14 June, he added.
These event areas include parts of Tanglin – home to the US embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Shangri-La Hotel – and Sentosa, where the summit will be held at the island’s Capella Hotel.
The MHA declared a boundary around Tanglin, Newton and parts of Orchard Road as a “Special Event Area” on Monday and a boundary around Sentosa and Southern Islands as a “Special Event Area” on Tuesday.
Additional security checks and screenings will also be carried out within “Special Zones” in the event areas and the authorities will be able to refuse any person or vehicle entry into these zones or remove them from within, said the police.
Other measures within the event areas include the prohibition of unmanned aerial vehicles, restriction of vessel movement by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and items such as loud hailers, petroleum or flammable materials.
Yahoo News Singapore understands that the level of security to be expected at the summit will be similar to those at past National Day Parades.
“We seek the support and cooperation of the public because these security measures are necessary to ensure the security of the summit and Singapore,” added SAC How. “Members of the public can play an important role and partner the police by being vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police immediately.”
Apart from the summit venues, the police will step up patrols “in areas of high human traffic”, he added.
Yahoo News Singapore also understands that more information on traffic arrangements within the event areas will be released in the days to come.
Earlier on Wednesday, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced in a notice posted to airmen that airspace over Singapore will be temporarily restricted for parts of 11, 12, and 13 June.
All aircraft arriving into Changi Airport will be required to reduce airspeed and face certain restrictions on runway use “for reasons of national security”, the notice added.
According to Reuters, a separate notice on the ICAO website warned aviators to keep clear of the Paya Lebar Air Base, adding that aircraft breaching the restrictions “may be intercepted”.
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