S'porean boy, 14, given ISA restriction order; first self-radicalisation case from mixed ideologies

SECURITY THREAT Anyone who supports, promotes, undertakes or makes preparations to undertake armed violence, regardless of how they rationalise such violence, or where the violence takes place, is a security threat to our society. INTERNAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT

- David Sun

Within a year of consuming extremist content, a 14-year-old boy supported ISIS, far-right and far-left extremism, communism, hated women and Jews, and idolised Osama bin Laden, Adolf Hitler and Kim Jong Il.

He was in contact with several foreign extremists, one of whom offered to help the boy plan an attack in Singapore and even sent him bomb-making manuals.

His picking and choosing of ideologies was so varied that the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on Sept 9 his was the first self-radicalisation case involving a "salad bar" of ideologies.

The teen is one of two male Singaporeans recently issued with restriction orders (ROs) under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The other is a 30-year-old self-employed online business owner.

ISD said the boy, who was issued an RO in September, became exposed to extremist ideologies online in mid-2024. He had chanced upon foreign extremist personalities who posted far-right extremist and true crime content.

True crime refers to a genre of media that focuses on real-life criminal cases, often involving violent offences like murder, assault or serial killings.

ISD said the boy chatted with these online personalities to learn more, and became exposed to the manifestos of far-right terrorists Brenton Tarrant and Anders Breivik.

Tarrant carried out the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand that left more than 50 dead.

Breivik was responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks that killed more than 70 people.

ISD said the boy developed a strong hatred for Jews and backed Nazi figures like Hitler.

However, as a Muslim, he rejected anti-Muslim rhetoric.

He also advocated far-left extremism, viewing it as anti-Zionist.

In particular, he was a fan of socialism and communism, rejecting capitalism, which he saw as a Jewish ideology, said ISD.