SINGAPORE - Mrs Judith Francis-Wertenbroch stood on the balcony of her apartment in the Upper Bukit Timah area on Wednesday night (Sept 11), looking out at the dark trees lining her street all the way to Clementi. In the distance, she could even make out the tiny shimmering lights of Marina Bay Sands.

But her mind was not on the peaceful scene before her. Instead, the American was remembering another time, 18 years ago, when she escaped the single deadliest terrorist attack in history.