MTR terror drill takes high-tech track

Drones and unmanned vehicles were used for the first time in an anti-terrorism drill by regular police officers and officers from the MTR's railway district in Tsing Yi station in the early hours on Saturday.

Some 230 officers from the railway response team, the counter terrorism response unit, the emergency unit of New Territories South and the MTR joined the drill to simulate a terrorist attack response.

About 30 members of "Project Achieve," aimed at encouraging post-secondary students to join the force after graduation, had roles to help them develop a better understanding of counter-terrorism work.

The drill was conducted on the tracks and in train compartments, during which drones and electronic equipment were deployed.

It was the first time the railway response team used drones and unmanned vehicles to make rapid inspections of a developing situation to enhance operational efficiency.

During the drill, frontline MTR Corp officers had to activate the station's emergency mechanism and assist the police in accessing different parts of the station.

Police said on Facebook that this was geared toward testing frontline staff's ability to cope with emergencies, as well as putting their on-the-spot judgement and professional sensitivity to the test "so as to enhance the police and MTR Corp's communication, coordination and adaptability."

Part of the drill saw officers clambering aboard a train on Tung Chung line to enhance participants' understanding of track areas and the compartments in a realistic environment.

Officers simulated an operation in which they had to evacuate passengers from trains.

Officers also simulated a scene where they had to deal with a terrorist holding a citizen hostage armed with a gun.

Last month, a similar counter-terrorism exercise, codenamed "Tigerpace," was coordinated by the interdepartmental counter terrorism unit at another MTR station.

Authorities explained the exercise was to test and enhance departments' capabilities in dealing with terrorism-related intelligence and responding to different forms of terror attacks, as well as to demonstrate the importance of concerted efforts and coordination by all stakeholders in counter-terrorism work.