As part of the Force's ongoing efforts to strengthen frontline operational capacity to cope with terrorist attacks, the Emergency Unit of New Territories South (EU NTS) conducted a counter-terrorism (CT) exercise, codenamed "FLYINGEAGLE", at Sha Tin Racecourse and Racecourse MTR Station on November 7.

Nearly 150 officers from EU NTS, Police Tactical Unit F Company, Counter Terrorism Response Unit (CTRU), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau and Railway District took part in the exercise, with the support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the MTR Corporation.

The exercise simulated a violent attack by a group of armed terrorists on passengers on an MTR train that was arriving at the Racecourse Station. One of the terrorists, who was wearing a suicide vest, attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device that had been placed on a grandstand of the racecourse. The exercise provided an opportunity for frontline officers to test their tactical intervention skills and for operational commanders to enhance their situational assessment capability and decision-making skills in a very dynamic environment.

It is noteworthy that the exercise adopted a free-flowing approach in which the participants reacted spontaneously to the scene. For example, on-site officers sustaining incapacitating injuries and fatalities were taken out of the venue, reducing the manpower available and testing the commanders' response to emergencies. The exercise gave positive results as the participants had strengthened teamwork and inter-unit co-ordination whilst the related units had boosted their operational capabilities in tackling terrorist attacks.