A 14-year-old Singaporean boy has become the youngest person to be issued a restriction order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for self-radicalisation, according to the Internal Security Department (ISD).
Authorities said that within just one year of consuming extremist content online, the teenager developed support for a wide and conflicting mix of ideologies, ranging from ISIS and far-right extremism to communism and incel beliefs. The ISD described the case as the first involving a “salad bar” of ideologies.
The teenager’s exposure began in mid-2024, when he came across extremist personalities online who promoted far-right views and true crime content. His interest deepened over time, leading him to read the manifestos of known terrorists Brenton Tarrant and Anders Breivik.
Despite being a Muslim, he supported figures like Adolf Hitler due to his developing hatred for Jews, while at the same time rejecting anti-Muslim views found in some far-right content.
He later showed support for far-left ideologies, especially socialism and communism, considering capitalism to be linked to Jewish influence. He also expressed admiration for North Korean leader Kim Jong Il for leading a communist regime.
His beliefs shifted again when, in November 2024, he watched a video of ISIS fighters online. This influenced him to join pro-ISIS groups on social media and pledge support to the militant group. He idolised Osama bin Laden and declared an intention to fight for ISIS in the future, according to reports.
While radicalised, the boy shared extremist materials with his schoolmates, though investigations found that none of them were radicalised by his actions. He also communicated with foreign extremists, including an alleged ISIS supporter in Iraq who sent him bomb-making manuals and offered help in planning an attack in Singapore.
Authorities confirmed that the teenager did not take any concrete steps to carry out violence but had expressed intentions to kill Jews and conduct a school shooting.
In addition, he identified as an incel and held misogynistic beliefs after being influenced by related online content. The incel ideology promotes hatred towards women and has been associated with violent acts in several countries. The boy’s family was unaware of his activities, as he took steps to hide his online behaviour by deleting content and masking his digital trail.
According to ISD, the boy lacked a deep understanding of the ideologies he claimed to support and often backed ideas that directly contradicted each other. For instance, he praised both communism and Nazism, despite the two being ideologically opposed.
The boy is now under a restriction order, which limits his movements and activities. He will undergo religious counselling, psychological support, and social rehabilitation. A community mentor will be assigned to him, and the ISD will work with his family and school to ensure he continues his education without disruption.
The other individual issued a restriction order is a 30-year-old self-employed Singaporean, Muhammad Jihadul Mustaqiim Mahmud. He had intentions to take part in armed conflict overseas, including in Syria and against Greece in defence of Turkey due to territorial tensions. His radicalisation began in 2011 after following the Syrian civil war online. Personal struggles in 2019 worsened his extremism, and he considered joining rebel training groups like Malhama Tactical.
Even after the fall of the Assad regime in 2024, Jihadul remained in contact with a suspected extremist in Syria and intended to travel there in 2025 for training. He also engaged in firearms training during a trip to Phuket, Thailand. His family had no knowledge of his plans.
ISD also announced that restriction orders for two other Singaporeans have been allowed to lapse due to their positive progress in rehabilitation. One of them had been detained in 2019 and later released in 2021, while the other had been under restrictions since 2010.
Besides these two new cases, three other individuals have been dealt with under the ISA in 2025. These include a housewife who managed pro-militant social media groups, a teenage girl who wanted to marry an ISIS fighter, and a 17-year-old boy who planned to kill Muslims in a mass attack.
ISD has warned that the terrorism threat in Singapore remains high. It noted that global developments, including the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, continue to influence local radicalisation cases. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the SGSecure movement and report any signs of radicalisation or suspicious behaviour.
