SINGAPORE – In its annual report on terrorism released on July 25, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said the terrorism threat to Singapore remains high, though there is no indication of an imminent attack.
Here are seven key takeaways from the report.
1. Terror threat rose after Oct 7, 2023, Hamas attack
ISD said the terrorism threat to Singapore has risen since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, which escalated the longstanding Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Israel responded to the attack with air strikes and an invasion of Gaza. The outbreak of hostilities ignited emotive responses worldwide, including acts of violence and calls by terrorist groups to further their agenda.
Hamas leaders have called for attacks against the interests of Israel, the United States and their allies, ISD said, noting that terrorist propaganda containing such calls have made the rounds on social media in South-east Asia.
In Singapore, there has been an uptick in anti-Singapore sentiments on social media among regional netizens who perceive the Republic to be pro-Israel, ISD said.
There have been posts online urging attacks against Singapore using “bombs” and “rockets” and calling for the country to be “destroyed” and “wiped out”.
Singapore’s interests may also be caught in the crossfire if state actors and their proxies engage in attacks against adversaries.
2. Islamist terrorism remains at forefront of global terror threat landscape
In particular, militant group ISIS remains a persistent threat, said ISD.
Despite leadership attrition and financial setbacks, ISIS and its affiliates retain their capacity to conduct terrorist attacks, both in and beyond conflict zones.
ISIS is behind the protracted insurgency in Iraq and Syria. Among its affiliates, ISIS-Khorasan is of particular concern, given its track record of executing attacks in Asia and beyond.
Al-Qaeda continues to pose a threat, said ISD, adding that the terrorist group remains close to the Taliban and harbours global ambitions.