- Self-radicalised 14-year-old boy created a 21-page manifesto detailing an attack on his schoolmates and teachers, admitting he would have carried out the stabbings.
- He was arrested by the Internal Security Department (ISD) in May 2026, a month before his planned attack, and issued with a detention order.
- The 14-year-old is the youngest person ever detained under Singapore's Internal Security Act (ISA).
- The youth planned a mass-casualty attack against non-Muslim teachers and schoolmates during the June school holidays in 2026.
- He had initially wanted to use firearms but concluded that Singapore's strict gun laws made that unrealistic, settling on using a penknife and a kitchen knife.
- Following his detainment, he told the ISD that he would have executed his attack were he not arrested, indicating his determination to follow through with his plans.
- The teen's radicalisation began in 2024 with first-person shooter games on the online gaming platform Roblox that recreated versions of real-life school shootings.
- The ISD stated that the three youths will undergo a holistic rehabilitation programme to address their religious and ideological misconceptions, and psychological and social vulnerabilities.
- SM Shanmugam stressed the importance of vigilance among the public and parents to safeguard children, noting how quickly radicalisation can take hold.
A 14-year-old boy in Singapore, the youngest ever detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), plotted a mass stabbing attack on his school, as detailed in a 21-page manifesto. He was arrested in May, a month before the planned attack during the June school holidays.1234
The boy's radicalisation began in 2024 through first-person shooter games on Roblox, which depicted real-life school shootings. Initially intending to use firearms, he opted for a penknife and kitchen knife due to Singapore's strict gun laws. His manifesto, titled 'A Call to Action', listed intended victims, primarily targeting fellow Secondary Two students whom he felt had bullied him.679
The Internal Security Department (ISD) reported that the boy had shared his views with family and friends, indicating a broader pattern of radicalisation among youths. Alongside him, two other teenagers were detained, including a 15-year-old influenced by ISIS ideologies, aiming to establish an Islamic caliphate in Southeast Asia through violence.
The ISD emphasized the need for a holistic rehabilitation programme to address the psychological and ideological vulnerabilities of these youths. Over the past 11 years, 23 individuals under 20 have been dealt with under the ISA, highlighting a concerning trend in youth radicalisation in Singapore.
“The 14-year-old, the youngest ever detained under Singapore's ISA, created a 21-page manifesto detailing his attack plans, which included livestreaming the event. The Internal Security Department noted that 23 individuals under 20 have been dealt with under the ISA in the past 11 years, highlighting the urgency of addressing radicalisation.”
AsiaOne
