14yo boy given ISA restriction order in ISD’s first local case of ‘salad bar’ radicalisation

A 14-year-old boy in Singapore has been placed under a restriction order (RO) after becoming radicalised by a mixture of extremist ideologies, including support for ISIS, Nazism, communism and misogynistic incel ideas. The Internal Security Department (ISD), announcing the case on 9 Sept, said it marked Singapore’s first known example of a youth adopting what it described as a “salad bar” of conflicting extremist beliefs. The teenager was exposed to extremist ideologies in mid-2024 after encountering online content from foreign extremist personalities who posted far-right material alongside true crime videos. He engaged with them in chat forums, where he came across the manifestos of Brenton Tarrant, the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, and Anders Breivik, who carried out the 2011 Norway attacks. Influenced by these writings, the boy developed a strong hatred of Jews and supported Nazi figures such as Adolf Hitler. At the same time, he embraced socialist and communist ideas, admiring Kim Jong Il’s leadership in North Korea.

Shift towards jihadist content and pledge to ISIS

In November 2024, the boy watched an ISIS video on social media that showed the group in armed combat. He soon joined pro-ISIS communities online and pledged allegiance to the group in April 2025. He idolised Osama bin Laden as the “founding father” of modern jihad and began circulating large volumes of ISIS-related material through his social media accounts. He told others he aspired to become a fighter when he was older. Although he shared extremist content with some classmates, ISD noted that none of them were radicalised.

Discussions of attacks and links with foreign extremists

The teenager communicated with foreign extremists, including an alleged Iraq-based ISIS supporter who offered to help him plan an attack in Singapore and even sent bomb-making manuals. He also spoke of carrying out a school shooting or targeting Jews. However, ISD said he did not make any concrete preparations for an attack. At the same time, he was influenced by incel-related content and began identifying as “involuntary celibate”, developing a strong hatred of women.

Family unaware of his radicalisation

The boy’s family did not know about his activities, as he took deliberate steps to erase extremist content from his devices and conceal his online footprint. ISD said his understanding of extremist ideologies was shallow, and he held contradictory beliefs. For instance, he supported both communist North Korea and Nazi Germany, despite the opposing ideologies.

Rehabilitation and wider concerns

ISD said the youth will undergo religious counselling, psychological and social rehabilitation, and mentoring support. Officers will work with his family and school to provide stability and prevent disruption to his education. The department highlighted the case as part of a growing global trend of youth radicalisation by mixed ideologies. Young people, as digital natives, are more exposed to extremist materials and may combine disparate ideas even when contradictory. ISD stressed that “anyone who supports, promotes, undertakes, or makes preparations to undertake armed violence, regardless of how they rationalise such violence, or where the violence takes place, is a security threat”.

Second Singaporean issued order for extremist intent

ISD also announced that 30-year-old online business owner Muhammad Jihadul Mustaqiim Mahmud was issued an RO in July 2025. He had long been interested in the Syrian conflict, becoming deeply invested in 2011 after reading about it on social media. He developed hatred towards the Assad regime and in 2019 expressed a wish to die a “meaningful death” fighting with rebel groups. In 2022, he explored joining Malhama Tactical, a group of private military contractors training anti-Assad rebels in Syria. Although the regime fell in December 2024, Jihadul continued to engage with extremists online and hoped to travel to Syria in late 2025 for combat training. He also sought to defend Turkey in a possible armed conflict with Greece, practising live-firing during a trip to Phuket in February 2025. His family was unaware of his plans.

Conditions of restriction orders

Under the Internal Security Act (ISA), individuals under an RO cannot change residence or employment, travel overseas, access the internet, or issue public statements without ISD approval. They are also barred from holding office in organisations or publishing material. ISD said the restrictions are designed to prevent further radicalisation while allowing rehabilitative efforts to continue.

Previous cases and ongoing threat assessment

Two other Singaporeans, previously subject to ROs, were released from supervision after showing significant progress. They were identified as Kuthubdeen Haja Najumudeen, detained in 2019 and released in 2021, and Muhammad Anwar Jailani, who was under an RO since 2010. In 2025, three other Singaporeans were also dealt with under the ISA. They included a 56-year-old housewife running pro-terrorist social media groups, a 15-year-old girl who sought to marry an ISIS fighter, and a 17-year-old boy who planned to kill at least 100 Muslims. ISD, in its annual report released on 29 July, emphasised that the terrorism threat to Singapore remains high. It cited regional instability and conflicts such as the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war as drivers of extremism. Authorities urged members of the public to remain vigilant, learn to identify signs of radicalisation, and participate in the SGSecure movement. Anyone suspecting that a person is radicalised is encouraged to call the ISD hotline at 1800-2626-473 or email [email protected].