Singapore Police shot a drug suspect dead and detailed two others early Sunday following a shootout near the Shangri-La Hotel where an Asia Pacific Defence Summit is ongoing. The Summit, referred as Shangri-La Dialogue, is attended by United States Defence Secretary Ash Carter, who spoke at the Summit yesterday.
The Singapore Police Force said the incident took place in the vicinity of the Shangri-La Hotel when police opened fire at a vehicle carrying a group of three people after the driver accelerated the car and crashed through police barricades, Channel NewsAsia reported.
"The trio was earlier stopped at a police vehicular checkpoint set up along Ardmore Park. When asked to open the car boot for checks, the driver suddenly accelerated the vehicle towards Anderson Road. Despite police warnings to stop, the driver continued to crash through Police barricades, endangering the lives of the officers," the police department said in a statement on it's Facebook page.
"Police opened fire at the vehicle to stop further danger. Substances believed to be drugs were found on one of the persons detained," the statement further added.
AFP reported that Singapore Police have put the conference venue under lockdown after the incident. The police force have temporarily closed the venue and asked the public to stay away from the area.
"Due to the ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue, security measures including vehicle and person check points have been put in place in the vicinity of the Shangri-La hotel," police said.
The three-day conference, which ends later today, continued as normal on Sunday morning but heightened security could be seen around the venue.
The 14th Shangri-La Dialogue, considered as a foremost defense and security summit in Asia Pacific, is held in Singapore between May 29 and May 31. Defense Ministers from 26 nations are taking part in annual summit amid worsening tensions over the South China Sea, The Straits Times reported.
