Three self-radicalised Singapore teens detained, including 14-year-old who plotted school stabbing

Three Singaporean teenagers aged between 14 and 19, who were self-radicalised by violent extremist ideologies and planned to carry out separate attacks here, have been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). The cases are unrelated.

One of them was a 14-year-old student who was arrested in May, a month before his intended attack on his school.

The Secondary 2 student supported militant group ISIS, idolised mass shooters and made plans to carry out a mass stabbing at his secondary school during the June holidays, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on July 27.

ISD withholds the names of detainees under 18 years old.

The student drafted a 21-page manifesto setting out his attack plan, including his choice of weapons and a list of his targets, including non-Muslim teachers and students.

Speaking to reporters on July 27, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam said: “He had gotten quite close to carrying out his plans. It is worrying, but every case is worrying.”

Shanmugam, who is also Home Affairs Minister, said: “ISD and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have got to get it right every single time. The would-be attacker needs to get it right only once.”

Read more: The Straits Times