SINGAPORE — A man shot dead and two others in detention were not carrying weapons when they attempted to drive through a security cordon at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Sunday.

Mohamed Taufik Bin Zahar, 34, a Singaporean, was shot and killed as he accelerated through barricades protecting the weekend summit, which included Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and high-level officials from much of Asia and Europe.

Zahar had a history of drug-related offenses and was wanted after missing a court date, where he would have faced charges of criminal intimidation, according to a Singapore police statement.

Two passengers in the vehicle, Mohamed bin Ismail, 31, and Muhammad Syahid bin Mohamed Yasin, 26, both of Singapore, have been arrested.

Both were carrying illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Heng told the Straits Times on Monday that police maintained proper control, in light of the potential for a terrorist attack at the summit.

“All Singaporeans are thankful that (a terror attack) did not happen this time, but with the threat of extremist terrorism, we must all be prepared if an actual terrorist plot does occur,” Ng said.

Police stopped the car at a checkpoint and asked Zahar to open the trunk at 4:36 a.m., police said Sunday. Zahar continued driving through the barricades and toward the Shangri-La Hotel, where the summit was being held.

Zahar ignored warnings and was shot by police. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Singapore press photos of the vehicle, a red Subaru Impreza, show a single bullet hole through the windshield at head level.

Police restricted access following the incident and delayed entry for some attendees to the summit, but the event’s general session went on as scheduled.

slavin.erik@stripes.com Twitter: @eslavin_stripes

Migrated