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) Singapore (VNA) - The terrorism threat toSingapore remains high as terrorist groups continue spreading their influenceonline amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Security Department (ISD) saidon June 23.
Although there is currently no specific or credibleintelligence that points to an imminent terrorist attack on Singapore, thedepartment noted that it had averted terrorist attacks by two Singaporeanyouths who were targeting places of worship here.
These cases underscore the very real threat oflone-wolf attacks by self-radicalised individuals, said the ISD in the thirdedition of its Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report.
Since 2015, 54 people have been dealt with under theInternal 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, theISD said the threat to Singapore was high, and the most pressingthreat 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 theirsupporters to stage terrorist attacks.
Jemaah Islamiyah, the terrorist group linked toAl-Qaeda, remains a latent terrorism threat, the ISD said. It shared how there arerecent signs that the group is rebuilding its military capabilities and mayre-engage in terrorist violence in Indonesia.
While Islamist terrorism remains a key concern, far-rightextremism is an emerging threat as well, said the department.
It added that such radical behaviour, which espousesracial supremacy and anti-Islam and anti-immigration ideas, has emerged as amajor concern overseas and is the fastest growing threat in some westerncountries.
Far-right extremist groups have reportedly become moreorganised and are capable of mounting attacks, pointed out the ISD.
It also warned of how such violence could provokeretaliatory attacks from Islamist terrorist groups./.
VNA
