SINGAPORE – To fans of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, their National Stadium concerts gave Singaporeans a chance to see their idols in person, and to have mass sing-along sessions.
But to terrorists, large gatherings like concerts, sporting and Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) events can offer them opportunities to inflict maximum damage to Singapore’s reputation as a safe country for its people and tourists, said some experts.
In its annual report on terrorism released on July 25, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said the terrorism threat here has been elevated since the Israel-Hamas war, which broke out on Oct 7, 2023.
It said there has been more anti-Singapore rhetoric on social media from regional extremist elements, with some regional netizens perceiving Singapore to be pro-Israel.
ISD said Singapore continues to be viewed as an attractive target, and the terrorism threat to Singapore is real, and remains high. Hence, it is important for Singapore to always remain vigilant.
Counter-terrorism experts and a religious teacher told The Straits Times that while there is no indication of an imminent attack, Singapore cannot let its guard down.
They offered several reasons why Singapore would make an attractive target for terrorists.
Dr Noor Huda Ismail, a visiting fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said Singapore’s mix of different religions and ethnicities can be exploited by terrorists to create conflict and division.
He said no country is immune to terrorism and Singapore may be viewed as a target due to its high visibility and symbolic value.
He added: “Being a prosperous and stable country, any attack on Singapore would attract a lot of international attention. It could also be seen as a strike against modernity, globalisation, and secular government, which extremist groups often oppose.”
As Singapore is dubbed the events hub in Asia, conferences and concerts can be likely targets for terrorist attacks, said Dr Noor Huda, whose work focuses on terrorism in the region.
Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at policy and business consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, said holding concerts and conferences is not new for Singapore and they have long been security risks for possible terror attacks.
Dr Mustafa, who is also a visiting professor in international relations at the Islamic University of Indonesia, said: “Singapore has been able to protect itself from terror threats thus far due to its effective intelligence, collective resilience, constant vigilance, strong cultural cohesion and robust social compact in state-society relations.”