A 16-year-old boy has been detained in Singapore for allegedly plotting to attack two mosques on the anniversary of the Christchurch shootings. The teenager, described as a Protestant Christian, was influenced by the Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant and planned to use a machete to kill Muslims and livestream the attack.
The boy is the youngest person to be detained under Singapore's Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial. He was arrested last month after authorities received a tip-off in November. The Ministry of Home Affairs said he was motivated by a strong antipathy towards Islam and a fascination with violence.
The teen allegedly planned to attack Assyafaah Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque, both near his home. He intended to steal his father's credit card to rent a car and drive between the sites, despite not having a driving licence. He originally wanted to use a rifle but switched to a machete due to Singapore's strict gun laws.
Officials said he prepared documents to disseminate before the attack, including a manifesto expressing hope that his actions would be seen as a 'justifiable act of violence'. During interrogations, he admitted he foresaw only two outcomes: arrest before carrying out the attack, or death by police after executing the plan.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam described the case as a 'worrying development', noting that several youths under 20 have been detained or given restriction orders under the Internal Security Act in recent years. The teenager will undergo religious, psychological and social rehabilitation, including sessions with a Christian counsellor.
