Singapore Detains Two Teenagers for Extremist Plans

Authorities have detained two teenagers under the Internal Security Act, one for planning to attack mosques and the other for wanting to join Daesh, Arab News reported. The 17-year-old male, who held far-right extremist views, intended to shoot mosques and aimed to kill at least 100 Muslims, seeking to surpass the 2019 Christchurch attack. He attempted to purchase firearms from the US, Malaysia, and Thailand and was detained in March; he could face up to two years without trial.

The second detainee, a 15-year-old female, expressed a desire to marry a Daesh fighter and either raise a pro-Daesh family or fight alongside militants in Syria. She received a restriction order in February. Since 2015, Singapore has used the Internal Security Act against 17 youths aged 20 and under due to concerns over youth radicalization. Of those detained, nine had plans for attacks in the multi-racial nation, where the population is predominantly Chinese. Authorities emphasize the need for public vigilance against rapid self-radicalization.