Singapore mosque attacks plot

Singapore mosque attacks plot
Part of Counter-terrorism in Singapore and right-wing terrorism
Yusof Ishak Mosque in 2017, one of the mosques that were planned targets
Location	Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands and Assyafaah Mosque in Sembawang (planned)
Date	Planned to be executed on 15 March 2021 (15 March 2021), foiled in November 2020 (November 2020)
Target	Muslim worshippers
Attack type	Failed terrorist plot, right-wing terrorism, stabbing, hate crime, shooting
Weapon	Smith & Wesson Machete Assault rifle
Deaths	0
Injured	0
Perpetrator	Unnamed 16-year-old male
Motive	Islamophobia Revenge for non-Muslims killed by Islamic extremists

The Singapore mosque attacks plot was a plan by a far-right extremist to commit two Islamophobic terrorist attacks at two Singaporean mosques on 15 March 2021, the 2-year anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings. The plot was uncovered in late November 2020 by the Internal Security Department, who arrested a 16-year-old Indian Singaporean Protestant youth under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The perpetrator reportedly expressed anti-Islamic views and was inspired by the actions of Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch mosque shooter. The suspect is the youngest person and the first far-right extremist to be detained under the ISA.

Background

The suspect

According to the Internal Security Department (ISD), the suspect was a 16-year old Protestant Christian of Indian ancestry who was motivated by Islamophobia and fascinated with violence. After watching several ISIL propaganda videos including one showing the execution of Ethiopian Christians, the suspect came to believe that ISIL represented Islam and that Islam called on its followers to kill non-Muslims.

The suspect was also influenced by the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant, having read his manifesto "The Great Replacement" and watched a livestream video of the terror attacks on the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch. Following the Nice stabbing on 29 October 2020, he became convinced that an attack by Muslims on Christians was imminent.

Planning and manifestos

Following the 2020 Nice stabbing, the suspect began making detailed plans to attack two mosques on 15 March 2021, the second anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings. After initially considering the An-nur Mosque, the suspect selected the Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands due to its proximity to the Assyafaah Mosque in Sembawang. According to the ISD, the suspect conducted online research and reconnaissance using Google Maps and Street View on both mosques to prepare for the attacks. Despite not having a driving license, he intended to obtain a car for driving between the two targets.

Following Tarrant's example, the suspect bought a tactical vest from internet auction website Carousell in November 2020, which he intended to strap a mobile device for livestreaming his attacks. He also tried to purchase a gun via the messaging platform Telegram but abandoned it after suspecting a scam. The suspect also admitted that his plans to obtain firearms were thwarted by Singapore's strong gun control laws. The suspect also explored building a Triacetone Triperoxide bomb but abandoned it due to logistical and personal safety concerns. Finally, the suspect settled on a Smith & Wesson machete on Carousell but was not able to purchase it prior to his arrest.

The suspect also prepared two documents which he intended to disseminate prior to his attacks. The first document was a message to the people of France in response to the 2020 Nice stabbing which advocated conflict against Muslims. The second document was an uncompleted manifesto outlining his hatred for Islam and rejection of pacifism. The suspect expressed hope that his actions would challenge those who believed that Islamic extremism was right. He also praised Tarrant (the perpetrator of the Christchurch attacks) as a "saint" and described the Christchurch attacks as a "justifiable killing of Muslims."

Arrest, investigation, and detention

In November 2020, the Internal Security Department received intelligence about a Singapore-based individual who wanted to attack Muslims in Singapore. The suspect was arrested under the Internal Security Act on 26 November and subsequently issued with a detention order on 23 December after being deemed to pose an "imminent security threat." The youth was the youngest person and first far-right extremist to be detained under the ISA. Due to his young age, the teenager's mother was present during the interview and he was allowed visits during the 30-day investigation period.

During the course of the ISD's investigation, the suspect admitted that he could only foresee two outcomes to his plan: that he was arrested before he could carry out the attacks or that he executed his plan and was killed by the Singapore Police. The suspect also told investigators that he was prepared to die for his cause. The ISD's investigation concluded that the suspect did not try to influence anyone with his "extreme outlook" or recruit others into his attack plot. His immediate family and others within his social circle were unaware of his attack plans and anti-Islamic views.

In late January 2021, Singaporean Minister for Law and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam ruled out prosecuting the suspect in a court of law, arguing that the court proceedings would inflame communal tensions. He also said that Muslims arrested for potential terrorism offenses under the ISA were also not charged in court. Based on the current rehabilitative approach towards Islamist terrorism suspects detained under the ISA, Shanmugan and the ISD indicated that the suspect would undergo holistic programme consisting of religious, psychological and social rehabilitation including counselling to address his propensity violence and extremist views.

In January 2024, the youth was released from detention after spending almost three years in detention.

Media coverage and reactions

Singaporean authorities first disclosed the case to the news media and public on 27 January 2021. Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam also discussed details of the mosque attacks plot and investigation during a press conference. In addition, the Singapore mosque attacks plot was covered by several international media including Al Jazeera, ABC News, BBC News, The Courier-Mail, The Hindu, The New Zealand Herald, and the South China Morning Post.

Following media coverage of the mosque attacks plot, staff at the targeted Assyafaah Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque tightened patrols. Though worshippers continued to visit mosques on Thursday, many were hesitant to bring their children. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore issued a statement that the case highlighted the threat of online radicalization, and condemned acts of terror and violence "which have no place in any religion." Security studies Professor Rohan Gunaratna stated that Singaporean Muslims trusted the Singapore Government to protect them from threats and warned that governments needed to deal with the growing threat of terrorism on cyberspace.

The National Council of Churches of Singapore condemned the actions of the suspect as unrepresentative of the Christian faith and teachings and also affirmed their commitment to peaceful relations with the Singaporean Muslim community. In addition, several Singaporean Christian bodies including the Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, the Alliance of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of Singapore (APCCS), and the Heart of God Church (HOGC) issued statements condemning violence and extremism and expressing solidarity with the Muslim community.