Singapore Warns of Strait Attack (terrorist attacks on ships in Malacca Strait?)

WSJ ^ | 03/04/10 | WAYNE MA

[TigerLikesRooster]

* MARCH 4, 2010, 8:57 A.M. ET

Singapore Warns of Strait Attack

By WAYNE MA

SINGAPORE--Terrorists may be planning attacks on oil tankers and other large ships in the Malacca Strait, the Singapore Shipping Association said Thursday, citing an advisory from the Singapore Navy.

The warning, if accurate, may signal a tactical shift for terrorist groups operating in the region that would include sea-based targets.

The navy's Information Fusion Centre "received an indication that a terrorist group is planning attacks on oil tankers in the Malacca Straits," it said in the advisory, which was reviewed by Dow Jones Newswires. "This does not preclude possible attacks on other large vessels with dangerous cargo."

Singapore's Ministry of Defence declined to comment. The Singapore Shipping Association declined to elaborate.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Singapore govt. will shoot the perps down like dogs. Just watch.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

/

[Recon Dad]

The Malacca Strait was a pirate haven long before the Somalian pirates.

[FreedomFerret]

The good thing about Singapore is, they’re not afraid to live fire on pirates or terrorists when it’s proved ill intention. They ask questions later to any survivors.

[blam]

Just for your info.

The Straits didn't open up until about 7,600 years ago when the Ice Age melt water got high enough. This is also about the time that the fresh water Black Sea was breached and became a salt water sea.

Some of these (Asian) people were then able to migrate all the way to India and the Middle East by water.

When I went through there in the mid-60's, we had look-outs on 'pirate watch.'

[Old Teufel Hunden]

Been through the Malacca straits many times on ship. Very dangerous area. We used to get a lot of civilian ships in our convoy through there. They were tagging along with us for free protection. Singapore cannot guard against all Pirate attacks in there. The solution is to arm the frickin’ civilian ships!!!

[Gay State Conservative]

On my one visit to Singapore (a couple of years ago) I noticed more than a few posters (at least one or two being in Immigration/Arrivals halls) warning of various moslem terrorists wanted by the police.Kinda spooky to me.Add that to the fact that I couldn't walk for 5 minutes in Indonesia without passing one of those “mosque” joints and it was quite unnerving to me.

[Recon Dad]

My father was traveling the same waters at the same time. He was a Merchant Marine captain and or First Mate, that's how I first heard about the straits.

[Gay State Conservative]

The good thing about Singapore is, they’re not afraid to live fire on pirates or terrorists when it’s proved ill intention.

Yah,and the bad thing about Singapore is that they're an island of a few million sane people surrounded by a hundred million 9th Century knuckledraggers.

[Red Badger]

Malacca? Isn’t that racist?.................

[slorunner]

Back in the 60’s there was a very profitable company called Salvage Engineers operating out of Singapore providing armed anti piracy squads for shipping.

They would put them on board off Singapore, transfer them to a waiting crew boat at the other end of the Malacca straits and then they would escort another ship traveling the other way.

Free enterprise triumphed again. Now it probably would not be allowed.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Free enterprise triumphed again. Now it probably would not be allowed."

It made too much sense. They were bringing on those evil gun thingies and had to be stopped I'm sure. I would like to know their statistics as far as number of ships claimed by Pirates, number of personnel injured or killed while doing this. My guess is no one killed and few if any pirates taking over their ships.

[Cindy]

Thank you for the ping TigerLikesRooster.

[Cindy]

http://singapore.usembassy.gov/announcements.html

#

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1017.html

“Singapore”

SNIPPET: “THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: In 2001, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a terrorist organization with links to Al Qaeda, planned attacks in Singapore against government and private targets associated with the United States, Singapore and other countries. These plans were disrupted, and the JI organization in Singapore was dismantled. On February 27, 2008, suspected JI leader Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from detention in Singapore. However, on April 1, 2009, he was re-captured by the Malaysian Police in Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. He remains in custody in Malaysia.

Singapore continues to present a tempting target for terrorist groups. Extremist groups in Southeast Asia have demonstrated the desire and capability of conducting attacks against government and private sector facilities. The Department of State remains concerned with the possibility that these groups could conduct attacks against locations where Westerners areknown to congregate. Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets, and Americans residing in or traveling to Singapore and neighboring countries should therefore exercise caution and remain vigilant about their surroundings, particularly in areas where Americans and other Westerners live, work, congregate, shop or visit.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website. It contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s extensive tips and advice on traveling safely abroad.”

[Cindy]

http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers38/paper3702.html

Paper no. 3702

05-Mar-2010

“Fresh Fears of Maritime Terrorism - International Terrorism Monitor—Paper No. 626”
By B. Raman

SNIPPET: “6. It is in this context that one has to see reports from Singapore that an unidentified terrorist group is planning attacks against oil tankers in the Malacca Strait. The Singapore Shipping Association has been quoted as saying on March 2, 2010, that it had received an advisory from the Singapore Navy Information Fusion Centre about “an indication that a terrorist group is planning attacks on oil tankers in the Malacca Strait.” It added: “This does not preclude possible attacks on other large vessels with dangerous cargo.” The Navy Centre’s advisory reportedly said: “The terrorists’ intent is probably to achieve widespread publicity and showcase that it remains a viable group.” It reminded shipping operators that the militants could use smaller vessels such as dinghies and speedboats to attack oil tankers. It recommended that ships should “strengthen their onboard security measures and adopt community reporting to increase awareness and strengthen the safety of all seafarers,” according to the Association.”