Singapore arrests eight for terror plot in Bangladesh

Singapore (VNA) – Singapore detained eight Bangladeshi members of an organisation called "Islamic State in Bangladesh" (ISB), who allegedly plotted terror attacks in their home country, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on May 3.

The arrest was carried out in April under the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial.

The suspects are male between 27 and 34 years old and were migrant workers in Singapore’s construction and marine industries.

The group struggled to reach Syria and join the Islamic State (IS) group, so they planned to return to Bangladesh to overthrow the government, the MHA said.

It stressed that a list of Bangladeshi Government and military officials had been targeted for attack.

ISB leader 31 year-old Rahman Mizanur owned bomb-making manuals and a significant number of IS and Al-Qaeda documents, according to the ministry.

The group planned to recruit another Bangladeshi nationals in Singapore to raise funds and expand operations. All funds raised by the ISB were seized by the MHA.

Five other Bangladeshi men were also investigated but not found to be involved in ISB or Jihadi-related activities, the MHA said, adding that they were repatriated to Bangladesh.

In January, Singapore arrested 27 Bangladeshi men who allegedly supported terrorist groups, including IS and Al-Qaeda. Most of them worked in Singapore for between two and seven years.-VNA