The terrorism threat to Singapore remains high as terrorist groups continue spreading their influence online amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on June 23.

There is currently no specific or credible intelligence that points to an imminent terrorist attack on Singapore, noted the ISD. (Photo: Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs)

Although there is currently no specific or credible intelligence that points to an imminent terrorist attack on Singapore, the department noted that it had averted terrorist attacks by two Singaporean youths who were targeting places of worship here.

These cases underscore the very real threat of lone-wolf attacks by self-radicalised individuals, said the ISD in the third edition of its Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report.

Since 2015, 54 people have been dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for terrorism-related conduct. Among them, 44 - comprising 32 Singaporeans and 12 foreigners - were self-radicalised.

In the previous report released in January 2019, the ISD said the threat to Singapore was high, and the most pressing threat facing the country was from terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its affiliates.

ISIS and terrorist cell Al-Qaeda continue to be major threats, and the ISD said these groups have stepped up online efforts to inspire their supporters to stage terrorist attacks.

Jemaah Islamiyah, the terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda, remains a latent terrorism threat, the ISD said. It shared how there are recent signs that the group is rebuilding its military capabilities and may re-engage in terrorist violence in Indonesia.

While Islamist terrorism remains a key concern, far-right extremism is an emerging threat as well, said the department.

It added that such radical behaviour, which espouses racial supremacy and anti-Islam and anti-immigration ideas, has emerged as a major concern overseas and is the fastest growing threat in some western countries.

Far-right extremist groups have reportedly become more organised and are capable of mounting attacks, pointed out the ISD.

It also warned of how such violence could provoke retaliatory attacks from Islamist terrorist groups.

Source: VNA