27 radicalised Bangladeshis arrested in Singapore under Internal Security Act

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27 radicalised Bangladeshis arrested in Singapore under Internal Security Act: MHA

Lee Min Kok
Published Jan 20, 2016, 4:00 pm SGT
Updated 6 hours ago

SINGAPORE - Twenty-seven male Bangladeshis working in Singapore have been arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) - the first time a jihadist terror cell comprising foreigners has been uncovered here.

Investigations showed that the group, which has been meeting since 2013, supported the armed jihad ideology of terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Some of them had considered waging armed jihad overseas, but they were not planning any terrorist attacks in Singapore, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday (Jan 20).

The men, who were working in the construction industry here, were detained between Nov 16 and Dec 1 last year. Most of them had worked in Singapore for two to seven years.

Of the 27, 26 were members of a closed religious study group that subscribed to extremist beliefs and teachings of radical figures like Anwar al-Awlaki, an American and Yemeni Islamic lecturer alleged to have ties with militant group Al-Qaeda. Awlaki was killed in a drone strike in Yemen in September 2011.

The remaining man was not a member of the study group, but was discovered to have been undergoing radicalisation. He supported extremist preachers and possessed jihadi-related material.

All 27 have had their work passes cancelled, and 26 of them have since been repatriated to Bangladesh, where the authorities were informed of the circumstances of their repatriation.

The last person is now in prison for attempting to leave Singapore illegally after learning of his fellow members' arrests. He will also be repatriated once he completes his sentence.

This is the first time Singapore has uncovered a jihadist terror cell comprising foreigners. Previously, a few Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah members had been involved in terrorist incidents overseas, said MHA in response to media queries.

The group held weekly meetings and gatherings at a few mosques that were located near where some of them were staying. At these meetings, they discussed armed jihad and conflicts that involved Muslims, said MHA in response to media queries.

They were not employed by any particular company. "There was also no concentration of the group members in any particular place of abode," MHA added.

In the course of their arrests, the Internal Security Department recovered a "significant amount" of radical and jihadi-related material, such as books and videos containing footage of children undergoing training in what appeared to be terrorist military camps.

Several members also possessed a shared document with graphic images and instruction details on how to conduct "silent killings" using different methods and weapons.

An excerpt from the document, which depicts in a graphic manner how one can attack and kill with stealth. IMAGES: MHA

The group members took measures to avoid detection by the authorities, sharing jihadi-related materials discreetly and holding weekly gatherings to discuss armed conflicts involving Muslims, said MHA.

"They also carefully targeted the recruitment of other Bangladeshi nationals to grow their membership," said the MHA.

A number of members admitted that they believed they should participate in and wage armed jihad on behalf of their religion. Several contemplated travelling to the Middle East to take part in the ongoing conflict.

Some of them were in support of terrorist groups that killed Shi'ites as they considered Shi'ites to be "deviant".

They also bore grievances against the Bangladeshi government over its actions against some Islamic groups and leaders.

"Members were encouraged to return to Bangladesh and wage armed jihad against the Bangladeshi government. They had also sent monetary donations to entities believed to be linked to extremist groups in Bangladesh," said MHA.

The Government takes a serious view of any form of support for terrorism.

Any person - foreigner or otherwise - who engages in any activity that threatens to harm Singapore's national security and racial and religious harmony will be firmly dealt with under the law.

"Foreigners are guests of our country and they should not abuse this privilege and use Singapore as a base to import their own domestic political agenda and carry out activities in pursuit of such an agenda," MHA said.

"In the same way, foreign religious speakers who propagate divisive doctrines which could lead to mistrust, enmity and hatred among local religious groups and undermine Singapore's social cohesion are not welcomed and will not be allowed to operate in Singapore."

Anyone who knows or suspects that a person has been radicalised, or is engaging in extremist activities or propagating extremist teachings, should promptly inform the Internal Security Department (1800-2626-473) or the Police (999).

 

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ISA arrests: Men had been meeting since 2013 using premises of local mosques, says MHA

Published 6 hours ago
Shea Driscoll

SINGAPORE - The 27 Bangladesh nationals arrested under the Internal Security Act had been meeting since 2013, using the premises of a few local mosques, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Wednesday night (Jan 20).

At these weekly meetings, "they discussed armed jihad and conflicts that involved Muslims", the ministry said.

Most of the men had worked in Singapore for between two and seven years. They were employed in the local construction industry but were not concentrated in any particular company, workplace or place of abode, MHA said.

The group supported the ideology of terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and encouraged members to return to Bangladesh and take action against the country's government.

Twenty-six of the men were deported in December last year. The remaining man, Md Zahidul Islam Md Foyej Uddin, is serving a 12-week jail term for trying to leave Singapore illegally and will be deported once he is released.

"This is the first time Singapore has uncovered a jihadist terror cell comprising foreigners," MHA said.

Previous incidents had involved Singaporeans, such as a case last year where several Singaporeans were detained after being found to have intended to participate in armed violence overseas with ISIS.

A few Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah members had also previously been involved in terrorist incidents overseas.

The MHA statement in full:

“This is the first time Singapore has uncovered a jihadist terror cell comprising foreigners. Previously, a few Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah members had been involved in terrorist incidents overseas. Last year, several Singaporeans were detained after they were found to have intended to participate in armed violence overseas alongside ISIS.

In this latest case, the group has been meeting since 2013. They held weekly meetings and gatherings where they discussed armed jihad and conflicts that involved Muslims. They used the premises of a few local mosques that were located near where some of them were staying. Most of them had worked in Singapore between two to seven years. They were employed in the local construction industry but were not concentrated in any particular company or workplace. There was also no concentration of the group members in any particular place of abode.

The 26 Bangladeshi nationals were repatriated in December 2015. The remaining Bangladeshi, Md Zahidul Islam Md Foyej Uddin, was a member of the group and is serving a 12-week imprisonment term. He will be repatriated to Bangladesh after that.”

 

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Bangladeshis nabbed under ISA could have easily changed their minds and attacked S'pore: Shanmugam

"While they were planning attacks outside Singapore, they could have easily changed their minds and attacked Singapore," said Mr Shanmugam,PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

Published 10 hours ago
Shea Driscoll

SINGAPORE - The 27 radicalised Bangladesh nationals were planning attacks outside Singapore, but could easily have changed their minds and attacked the Republic, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said on Wednesday (Jan 20).

"While they were planning attacks outside Singapore, they could have easily changed their minds and attacked Singapore," Mr Shanmugam, who is also the Law Minister, said in a Facebook post.

The men met a mosque on a regular basis, one that Mr Shanmugam sometimes walks past, he said.

He added that Singapore's security agencies have done well in arresting them early: "Our security agencies have done well in picking them up early. I had said yesterday that the threat of terrorism is real. We are getting daily reminders of that."

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin also thanked Singapore's security forces.

"Thank you to our security forces. Let us all be prepared but let us not be intimidated. Press on!" he wrote on Facebook.

 

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Bangladeshis arrested under ISA a serious threat; radicalisation and terrorism must never take root in Singapore: PM Lee

"Radicalisation and terrorism must never take root in Singapore," said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Published 7 hours ago
Shea Driscoll

SINGAPORE - The 27 radicalised Bangladesh nationals arrested under the Internal Security Act were a serious threat to Singapore, even though they were plotting nefarious activities in their home country, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Singapore is tightening its security and acting to protect its racial and religious harmony, Mr Lee wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday night (Jan 20).

"They were plotting nefarious activities in Bangladesh and other countries, and not in Singapore. But they were still a serious threat to us," he wrote.

"We are tightening up our security, and acting to protect our racial and religious harmony.

"Radicalisation and terrorism must never take root in Singapore."

Citing a speech made by Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam on Tuesday (Jan 19), Mr Lee said: "He spoke plainly and directly, so that everyone understands that this is serious. The Government will do its part, but everyone has to be on guard for suspicious activities that could harm our way of life."

The 27 men supported the armed jihad ideology of terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Of the group, 26 have been repatriated to Bangladesh, while the last person remains in prison.