ISIS CONTINUES TO POSE “SIGNIFICANT” THREAT
Externally, ISD said terrorist groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) pose a persistent threat using their ability to radicalise plus inspire attacks among their followers.
“ISIS continues to create a significant security risk globally despite its leadership and territorial losses in the core conflict zone, ” ISD said, directing to how this appointed a new leader about a month after its former figurehead died during an US raid in February.
Within Southeast Asia, ISIS affiliates are the primary driver of terrorism and pose the most immediate danger through their capability to mount ISIS-inspired episodes, ISD said.
Pro-ISIS militant factions in southern Philippines persistently engage safety forces in insurgent-style armed clashes, while ISIS-aligned Jemaah Ansharut Daulah elements within Indonesia have remained active in conspiring attacks, the section said.
“In the past year, the quantity and scale of ISIS-linked or influenced terror attacks plus plots in Southeast Asia have dropped, largely due to solid counter-terrorism measures plus COVID-19 travel restrictions, ” ISD said.
“Given that travel restrictions all over the world are being lifted, this lull is likely to be temporary. ”
Terrorist elements may become “more active and revisit plots that had been wear hold” as restrictions are relaxed plus cross-border travel maintains.
In the region, ISIS’s violent ideology is constantly on the resonate with radical Islamists, fuelled by a thriving pro-ISIS environment on social media, ISD said.
The department explained that these online networks permit like-minded individuals in the region to coordinate fear activities across bodily borders and swap operational expertise, like in weapons-making.
“As travel limitations ease, online cooperation between extremists could manifest as real-life attacks, ” this said.
“Consequently, the region faces a heightened risk of ISIS-inspired attacks conducted simply by home-grown extremists, performing alone or within small groups. ”
In the West, however , ISD believes how the threat from far-right extremism has “overshadowed that of Islamist terrorism”.
ISD pointed to recent bulk shootings in the US where two gunmen slain 33 people in supermarkets, highlighting which they were apparently motivated by Brenton Tarrant, the white supremacist who killed fifty-one worshippers in 2 mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019.
“Globally, the Russian-Ukraine turmoil may serve as the rallying point to get far-right extremism elements, who have shown any in the Russia-Ukraine conflict since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, ” ISD said.
ISD noted reports that will about 20, 1000 volunteers – likely including far-right extremism elements – have responded to Ukraine’s invites to join its global legion, and that a number of western countries possess contributed “significant caches” of weapons to Ukraine’s defence.
“Far-right extremism-aligned foreign fighters and the expansion of surplus weapons would be likely by-products of a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, ” ISD added.
SELF-RADICALISATION THREAT WITHIN SINGAPORE
Within Singapore, ISD mentioned the threat of self-radicalisation continues to be the particular “primary driver” of the domestic terrorism danger.
Since 2015, 45 self-radicalised people, comprising 33 Singaporeans and 12 foreigners, have been issued along with orders under the Inner Security Act (ISA).
ISD reported the latest case associated with 29-year-old Singaporean Radjev Lal Madan Lal, who was detained under the ISA in April.
Radjev was introduced in 2013 to the online sermons of a significant preacher from Trinidad and Tobago, and over time became “deeply radicalised” by his teachings and those associated with other foreign major preachers.
Radjev believed he necessary to conduct armed violence against “enemies of Islam”, and considered travelling to Afghanistan to join Taliban militants. He or she also tried to get his family and friends, and created a social media group to propagate their ideologies, ISD said.
While he or she did not have particular attack plans, Radjev admitted that he has been willing to conduct panic anxiety attack in Singapore or against Singapore’s interests overseas, the division said.
“The case of Radjev underscores the pervasiveness of terrorist and extremist ideologies on-line, including those propagated by foreign preachers and ideologues, ” it added.
“It is therefore important to maintain Singapore’s zero-tolerance approach towards extremist rhetoric and hate speech, and also to inoculate the broader community against major ideologies. ”