SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore said on Thursday it had arrested three men since October last year who were preparing to travel to the Middle East to fight against Israel, and one had expressed a willingness to carry out attacks in Singapore if ordered to do so.
The Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the three Singaporean men were not related to each other and had been “radicalised” online, but there was no indication that others had been recruited.
It is not known why the ministry announced the arrest on Thursday.
After their arrest in October, they were detained under Singapore’s Internal Security Act, which allows suspects to be detained without trial for long periods.
All three were a director of a digital marketing company, an elevator mechanic and a security guard, aged 41, 21 and 44 respectively.
One of the three was ready to carry out any instructions from Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the statement said, “including carrying out attacks in Singapore”, adding that the man had no specific plans for an attack.
The Palestinian armed group Hamas is supported by Iran. Iran has not made any threats against Singapore.
One of the men visited a shooting range in Thailand to learn how to handle a firearm, while two planned to visit ranges in Indonesia.
The ministry said restrictions were placed on two other Singaporeans in June and July last year under a security law linked to the conflict in Gaza.