9-1-2025 (SINGAPORE) Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) has detained three Singaporean men under the Internal Security Act for radicalisation linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The arrests, made in November 2024, involved individuals who had independently developed extremist views through online exposure and had taken concrete steps towards engaging in armed violence abroad.
The youngest detainee, Muhammad Indra Aqmal Effendy, 21, was employed as a lift mechanic when authorities apprehended him. His radicalisation journey began in the aftermath of Hamas’ October 2023 attacks on Israel. The ISD reports that Effendy’s exposure to footage of Palestinian civilian casualties led to a rapid development of extremist views. He conducted daily weapons handling drills with toy guns and sought opportunities for firearms training in neighbouring Batam.
The second detainee, Mohamad Latiff Rahim, 41, presented a more complex case. A digital marketing company director based in Bangkok, Rahim’s radicalisation process dated back to 2010. His beliefs centred around Islamic eschatological prophecies, with the recent Middle East conflict reinforcing his conviction about an imminent End-of-Times scenario. Authorities revealed that Rahim had visited a Bangkok shooting range and regularly practised combat techniques with kitchen knives.
The third individual, Nurisham Yusoff, 44, worked as a security guard and became radicalised through social media exposure to controversial religious content. Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict, he actively sought ways to join Hamas’ military wing, believing his previous Singapore Armed Forces training would prove advantageous in combat situations.
In response to these arrests, the Defence Ministry acknowledged the security risks posed by former servicemen potentially misusing their military training. The ministry confirmed ongoing screening processes through its Military Security Department to identify and prevent security threats.
The ISD emphasised that all three men operated independently, with no evidence suggesting they had radicalised others within Singapore. Their families were reportedly unaware of their violent intentions. The department has urged the public to remain vigilant against extremist narratives, particularly those emerging from overseas conflicts.
This marks a significant development in Singapore’s ongoing efforts to combat extremism, with the ISD noting that these cases represent part of a larger group of at least five Singaporeans whose radicalisation has been influenced by the Israel-Hamas conflict since October 2023.
The authorities have encouraged community members to report signs of radicalisation, including excessive consumption of extremist content online, sharing of radical views, or expressed intentions to participate in violence either domestically or abroad.
