Cyclist hit by bullet slug: Safety protocols followed during live firing at Nee Soon range, says Mindef
SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on June 23 that safety protocols were followed at the SAF live-firing range in Nee Soon when a cyclist was hit by a bullet slug near the area on June 15.
It added that live-firing activity will resume operation with immediate effect. The next scheduled live-firing activity at the range will take place on June 26.
The ministry said in its update on the case on June 23 that based on the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) investigation, all relevant training directives, safety protocols and control measures were adhered to during the live-firing activity.
The weapons, ammunition, shooting positions and target placements were also in compliance with the SAF's stipulated guidelines, it added.
The 42-year-old man was hit in an area gazetted for SAF live-firing around the Nee Soon 500m range while cycling with his friends in a restricted area in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR), between the Upper Seletar and Upper Peirce reservoirs.
At the time of the incident, an authorised live-firing activity was being conducted by the SAF at the range, which was about 2.3 km away.
In its statement on June 23, Mindef said that the range was designed and built in accordance to international range safety standards, and certified for the firing of weapons such as general-purpose machine guns and sniper rifles.
It added that beyond the stop butt of the range, the restricted area provides a needed safety buffer catering to scenarios such as ammunition ricochet - this was determined through trials and trajectory simulations matching the life-firing activities at the range.
'The SAF maintains a robust safety framework to ensure the safe conduct of live-firing activities, and will continue to work with NParks to ensure safety measures and public warnings regarding restricted areas remain in place,' said Mindef.
'The SAF seeks the public's cooperation in staying out of restricted areas for live-firing for their own safety. Trespassing into such areas is also a violation under the Military Manoeuvres Act.'
The cyclist involved in the incident is under investigation for the offence of wilful trespass.
Last week, The Straits Times learnt that the cyclist and his friends may have have taken steps to conceal from the authorities the route they took on June 15.
ST found on June 17 that there are prominent signs around the park warning of a live-firing area and for visitors to keep clear. However, some cyclists and hikers choose to ignore these signs, with some in the riding community mapping out unofficial and 'more elusive tracks'.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction
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