28/01/2021
16-year-old Singaporean detained under ISA after planning to attack Muslims at 2 mosques
_
A 16-year-old Singaporean boy was detained in December under Singapore’s Internal Security Act (ISA) after making "detailed plans and preparations to conduct terrorist attacks" against Muslims, authorities said on Wednesday (Jan 27).
He planned to use a machete to attack Muslims at two mosques in the Woodlands area on Mar 15, the second anniversary of New Zealand's Christchurch attacks.
The teenager, who was not named, is a Protestant Christian of Indian ethnicity. He is the youngest person to be dealt with under the ISA for terrorism-related activities, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said in a media release.
A Secondary 4 student at the time of his arrest, he is the first detainee to be inspired by far-right extremist ideology, ISD added.
ISD stated that the teen was influenced by the 2019 terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch.
“He was self-radicalised, motivated by a strong antipathy towards Islam and a fascination with violence,” ISD said.
“He watched the livestreamed video of the terrorist attack on the two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Mar 15, 2019, and read the manifesto of the Christchurch attacker, Brenton Tarrant.
“He had also watched Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) propaganda videos, and came to the erroneous conclusion that ISIS represented Islam, and that Islam called on its followers to kill non-believers.”
COPYING THE CHRISTCHURCH MOSQUE ATTACKS
ISD said the teen was found to have made detailed plans to attack the two mosques, and that it was “clear” he was influenced by Tarrant’s actions and manifesto.
He chose Assyafaah Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque as his targets because they were near his home, ISD said, adding that he conducted online reconnaissance and research using Google Maps and Street View on both mosques to prepare for the attacks.
According to ISD at a media briefing, the teen initially considered An-Nur Mosque instead of Yusof Ishak Mosque, but the latter was deemed closer to Assyafaah Mosque. He planned his travel route, identified mosque entrances and where to park his vehicle, ISD said.
To prepare himself for the knifing attack, the teen watched YouTube videos, ISD said, and was confident of hitting the arteries of his targets by randomly slashing at their neck and chest areas...
_
Read more: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/16-year-old-singaporean-detained-isa-planned-attack-2-mosques-14052400
SINGAPORE: A 16-year-old Singaporean boy was detained in December under Singapore’s Internal Security Act (ISA) after making "detailed plans and ...
![The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance...](https://img4.medioq.com/652/819/4035589226528191.jpg)
![The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance...](https://img4.medioq.com/006/336/3033570890063368.jpg)
