SINGAPORE, Jan 6 (NNN-XINHUA) – While Singapore sees no specific or credible terrorist threats at present, there is still a need to stay alert to potential threats on the horizon, a local newspaper reported yesterday, quoting a report.
Released by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, in Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, the report said, the easing of COVID-19-related movement restrictions and resuming of cross-border travel could prompt a surge in terrorist movement and activities, including around Southeast Asia.
The report said that, Singapore continues to remain a high-value target for both terrorist organisations and self-radicalised lone actors.
The primary threat in Singapore still emanates from individuals, self-radicalised through online means, it added.
“As such, the authorities will need to continue to take a proactive stance against those seeking to recruit and radicalise individuals for the purpose of committing terrorist acts, or to foment ethnic or religious divisions in the community.”
Since 2015, 45 self-radicalised individuals have been dealt with under the Internal Security Act. While figures declined in recent years, from a high of 17 cases in 2016, to a single case each in 2021 and 2022, cases of self-radicalisation persist, according to the report.– NNN-XINHUA