In a chilling reminder of the persistent threat of extremism, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) has thwarted potential attacks by two self-radicalized teenagers, including a 17-year-old boy who planned to target mosques across the city-state. Inspired by the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand, the teenager aimed to replicate the violence on a larger scale, targeting Muslim worshippers during Friday prayers. His plans, alongside those of a 15-year-old girl aspiring to join ISIS, have reignited concerns about youth radicalization and the growing influence of extremist ideologies among Singapore’s younger generation.
A Disturbing Plot Unraveled
The 17-year-old boy, detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in March 2025, had meticulously planned attacks on five mosques in Singapore, located in Jurong West, Clementi, Margaret Drive, Admiralty Road, and Beach Road. His primary focus was Masjid Maarof in Jurong West, an area he frequented. According to the ISD, the teenager intended to kill at least 100 Muslims as they left after Friday prayers, drawing direct inspiration from Brenton Tarrant, the perpetrator of the Christchurch massacre that claimed 51 lives. The youth expressed a desire to live-stream his attacks and ultimately take his own life before police could intervene. 
His radicalization journey began in 2022, fueled by exposure to Islamophobic and far-right extremist content online. Identifying as an “East Asian supremacist,” he harbored racist views against Malays and subscribed to the ethno-nationalist “Great Replacement” theory, which claims that white or dominant ethnic groups are being replaced by minorities through migration and demographic shifts. The teenager believed this phenomenon was occurring in Singapore and posted online messages advocating for violence against Muslims to prevent what he saw as the erosion of Chinese dominance in the city-state.
Despite multiple attempts to acquire firearms—ranging from contacting a US-based individual claiming to be a gun maker to exploring smuggling options from Malaysia or Thailand—the teenager was unable to obtain a weapon. He also considered modifying a replica pistol and watched online videos to learn how to handle firearms. His arrest by the ISD came before he could act on his intentions, though he admitted he would have carried out the attacks if successful in securing a gun.
A Parallel Case of Extremism
In a separate but equally alarming case, a 15-year-old girl became the first female teenager and the second-youngest person to be issued a restriction order under the ISA in February 2025. Driven by a desire to marry an ISIS fighter and establish a pro-ISIS family, she expressed aspirations to fight in Syria and die as a martyr. Her radicalization, like that of the 17-year-old, occurred entirely online, highlighting the pervasive reach of extremist propaganda through digital platforms.
The ISD revealed that the girl’s case marks a troubling trend of increasingly younger individuals being drawn into extremist ideologies. Since 2015, 17 people aged 20 and below have been dealt with under the ISA, with nine aspiring to carry out attacks in Singapore. The agency noted that far-right extremism, in particular, is gaining traction among young Singaporeans, with the 17-year-old being the fourth individual since December 2020 to be detained for subscribing to such beliefs. All four were influenced by Tarrant and his online manifesto, underscoring the enduring impact of the Christchurch attack on vulnerable minds.
Government and Community Response
On April 2, 2025, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam addressed the media at Masjid Maarof, one of the targeted mosques, emphasizing the broader implications of such threats. “I think we all need to be worried because… if Muslims get attacked, it’s bad for the Muslim community, but it’s bad for Singapore – because we are one community” he stated. He highlighted the concerning trend of self-radicalized youth and warned that others might currently be consuming extremist materials or planning similar acts, even as authorities remain vigilant.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, who joined Mr. Shanmugam at the briefing, urged families and friends to report early signs of radicalization. Speaking in Malay, he noted that the families of both teenagers were aware of troubling behaviors but did not alert authorities. “If we look at these cases, the families of the two youths did not make any complaints or reports even when they knew and could see symptoms which point to aspects of radicalization” he said. He added that Singaporeans should consider themselves fortunate that the ISD intervened in time despite the lack of reporting.
The government has reiterated calls for public vigilance, providing a hotline (1800-2626-473) for anyone suspecting radicalization in their community. This proactive stance reflects Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy toward extremism, underpinned by the ISA, which allows for detention without trial in cases deemed critical to national security.
The Broader Context of Youth Radicalization
These cases are not isolated incidents but part of a global pattern of youth radicalization facilitated by the internet. Singapore, with its diverse, multi-ethnic population and strict social cohesion policies, faces unique challenges in combating extremist ideologies that exploit racial or religious fault lines. The “Great Replacement” theory, for instance, while rooted in European ethno-nationalist discourse, has been adapted by individuals like the 17-year-old to fit local contexts, stoking fears of demographic shifts in a country where ethnic harmony is a cornerstone of national identity.
Experts point to the role of social media and unmoderated online spaces in amplifying extremist content. The 17-year-old’s interactions with like-minded individuals, including an 18-year-old named Nick Lee detained under the ISA in December 2024, demonstrate how digital networks can reinforce hateful ideologies. Although the two had not met in person and were unaware of each other’s attack plans, they exchanged Islamophobic and far-right materials online, illustrating the insidious nature of virtual radicalization.
The ISD’s findings also reveal a gendered dimension to radicalization, with the 15-year-old girl’s aspirations aligning with narratives of romanticized jihad rather than the violent ethno-nationalism of her male counterpart. This diversity in motivations underscores the need for tailored interventions that address the psychological and social factors driving young people toward extremism.
Challenges and Policy Implications
Singapore’s response to radicalization has long emphasized prevention alongside enforcement. Programs like the Religious Rehabilitation Group, initially developed to deradicalize Islamist extremists, have been adapted to address far-right ideologies as well. Community engagement initiatives also play a critical role, fostering dialogue across ethnic and religious groups to counter narratives of division. However, the increasing prevalence of online radicalization among younger individuals poses a significant challenge, as traditional outreach methods may not penetrate the digital echo chambers where extremist ideas proliferate.
Minister Shanmugam’s warning that extremists “have to only get it right once” to cause harm reflects the high stakes of this battle. The ISD’s success in preempting these attacks is commendable, but it also highlights the resource-intensive nature of monitoring online activity and identifying at-risk individuals. Balancing security measures with civil liberties remains a delicate issue, particularly given the ISA’s provision for detention without trial, which has drawn scrutiny from human rights groups in the past.
Moreover, the reluctance of families to report radicalized loved ones, as seen in both cases, points to a gap in public awareness or trust in authorities. Addressing this requires not only education campaigns but also assurances that reporting will lead to supportive rather than punitive outcomes for those in the early stages of radicalization. Building such trust is essential in a society where community cohesion is both a strength and a potential vulnerability.
Looking Ahead
As Singapore navigates the evolving threat of youth radicalization, the dual challenges of online extremism and societal harmony loom large. The thwarted plans of these two teenagers serve as a stark warning of what could happen if vigilance falters. While the ISD continues to stand at the forefront of this fight, the responsibility extends to families, educators, and communities to recognize and act on early warning signs. In a nation built on the principle of unity in diversity, the question remains: how can Singapore safeguard its social fabric against the divisive forces of extremism in an increasingly connected world?
