Authorities in Singapore arrested three men they say were radicalized by jihadist content and who planned to engage in hostilities against Israel.
The suspects were detained under the Internal Security Act in October as they were preparing to travel to the Middle East, The Straits Times quoted Singapore’s Internal Security Department as saying on Thursday.
The ISD identified the men as Muhammad Indra Aqmal Effendy, 21; Mohamad Latiff Rahim, 41; and Nurisham Yusoff, 44. Their radicalization was either triggered or accelerated by the Israel-Hamas war that broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the report said.
One of the men expressed a willingness to carry out attacks in Singapore, the report said. Some of the detainees trained on using firearms.
Indra and Nurisham intended to fight for Hamas in Gaza, while Latiff planned to fight for Iran-linked terrorist groups in the Middle East, according to the Straits Times.
Indra, a lift mechanic, was deeply affected by online content showing Palestinian civilians killed by the Israel Defense Forces and he studied materials advocating armed jihad and “martyrdom.” Indra prepared to travel to Gaza.
Latiff, the director of a digital marketing company based in Bangkok, Thailand, was influenced by “end of times” prophecies since 2010 and believed it was his duty to fight the enemies of Islam during these times, according to the report.
Nurisham, a security guard, was exposed to radical preachers on social media in 2020 and became convinced that “martyrdom” was the easiest way to atone for his sins. A former soldier in the Singapore Armed Forces, he sought to enter Gaza and fight alongside terrorists there, according to the newspaper report.
