A 15-year-old student in Singapore has been detained under the Homeland Security Act for alleged terrorism-related activities, marking the youngest detention under this law in the country’s recent history. In addition, another 16-year-old was subject to restricted freedom of movement under the same legislation. The events began with the suspect’s arrest in November 2022, as officials described a plan to conduct terrorist attacks within Singapore and to advance the creation of an Islamic caliphate through force.
Media coverage notes that teenagers around the world face risks from extremist ideologies, with organizers attempting to recruit youth via online channels, including gaming platforms and social networks. In Singapore, authorities emphasize the need to monitor and counter these influences to protect young people from manipulation and radicalization.
The Homeland Security Act provides for preventive detention without a court order in certain security matters, a framework that authorities say helps prevent imminent threats from materializing. Both youths in this case were reported to have had contact with a local student named Mohammed Irfan Danyal, who was detained in December on suspicions of planning to establish an Islamic caliphate locally. Officials indicated that the individuals involved acted independently rather than as a coordinated cell.
According to reports, the 15-year-old reportedly harbored intentions of harming others and contemplated highly violent acts at well-known tourist sites in Singapore. The 16-year-old reportedly joined multiple extremist-themed servers on the Roblox gaming platform and consumed far-right content online, including videos on a popular streaming site. These details underscore the range of online environments where radical ideas can spread, especially among youths who may be searching for identity, belonging, or meaning.
Previously, discussions in public discourse have highlighted similar cases from other regions, where youth linked to extremist ideologies faced legal actions or penalties. For example, lessons drawn from various jurisdictions point to the risk of young people being drawn into violent plots after exposure to online propaganda, gaming communities, and social networks. The focus remains on balancing public safety with safeguarding young people from radicalization, all within a lawful framework that preserves due process while addressing credible security concerns.