22-11-2024 (SINGAPORE) Singaporean authorities have launched an investigation into a local woman’s alleged involvement in terrorism-related activities, marking the latest in a series of security concerns in the city-state.
The Internal Security Department (ISD) confirmed the ongoing investigation on 22 November, following social media reports that emerged on a popular Telegram channel focused on the Gaza conflict. The channel, which boasts more than 200,000 subscribers, had claimed the woman was briefly detained and had her electronic devices seized before being released.
The ISD has maintained discretion regarding specific details, citing the active nature of their investigation.
This case follows several recent terrorism-related incidents in Singapore. In a particularly concerning development this August, authorities thwarted a potential attack when they detained a 17-year-old ISIS supporter. The youth had allegedly planned to conduct a stabbing spree targeting non-Muslims in the Tampines area during the September school holiday period.
Singapore’s counter-terrorism efforts have increasingly focused on radicalisation among both men and women. The nation witnessed its first female detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2017, when a 22-year-old woman was arrested after being radicalised by ISIS propaganda online. She had reportedly sought to become a “martyr’s widow” and attempted to arrange marriage with an ISIS supporter in Syria.
More recently, in July 2024, authorities issued a restriction order under the ISA to a 33-year-old former public servant. She had initially drawn attention for social media posts that authorities deemed potentially harmful to social harmony, and later for making explicit threats against Israeli nationals.
These cases highlight Singapore’s ongoing vigilance against extremist influences, particularly in the digital sphere, as authorities continue their efforts to maintain the city-state’s security and social cohesion.
