Singapore issues ISA restriction order against self-radicalised 14-year-old over ISIS support

 A 14-year-old Singaporean student was issued a restriction order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in November 2025 after being self-radicalised online by extremist ideologies linked to Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The Internal Security Department (ISD) said on 28 January 2026 that the Secondary 3 student had aspired to travel overseas to fight for ISIS and die as a martyr on the battlefield.

According to ISD, the youth had posted pro-ISIS content online, including videos created using footage from online games such as Roblox and Gorebox, where he recreated ISIS attacks and executions.

Use of gaming platforms to promote extremist narratives

Roblox is a user-driven gaming platform with millions of user-created games, while Gorebox is an online game known for allowing players to experiment with weapons and for its graphic depictions of violence.

ISD said the youth was 12 years old when he first encountered a video online showing ISIS fighters battling American soldiers in Al-Fallujah, Iraq.

“After watching the video, he started to view ISIS as the defenders of the civilian population against American and Iraqi oppressors,” ISD said, adding that social media algorithms subsequently pushed more ISIS-related content to his feeds.

After discovering a pro-ISIS website through social media, the youth spent around nine hours daily consuming extremist propaganda, according to ISD.

Deepening ideological commitment to ISIS

By late 2023 to early 2024, he had become a staunch supporter of ISIS and its objective of establishing a global Islamic caliphate through violence, the agency said.

He took a pledge of allegiance, known as bai’ah, to ISIS in June 2024 and considered himself a member of the group, openly showcasing his support on social media platforms.

“This included pro-ISIS videos that he had created using footage from his online gameplay on Roblox and Gorebox,” ISD said.

The agency added that the youth role-played as an ISIS fighter in these games, depicting the killing of “disbelievers” or enemies of the group.

Aspirations for overseas violence and preparation

While believing he was too young to take up arms immediately, the youth aspired to travel to Syria, Afghanistan, Africa, Iraq or Bali within 10 years to fight for ISIS and die as a martyr.

In preparation, ISD said the youth practised close-quarter battle simulations at home for up to two hours daily using a toy AK-47 rifle, role-playing attacks against the United States Army or Israel Defense Forces, whom he viewed as ISIS enemies.

ISD said he also attempted to garner online support for ISIS and encouraged others to engage in armed violence by creating new social media accounts and posting at least one publicly accessible pro-ISIS video daily.

Some of the videos used materials sourced online, including images of ISIS fighters, battlefield footage and jihadist nasheeds.

Hostility towards the LGBTQ community

Exposure to extremist content also intensified his hostility towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) community, ISD said.

After encountering material linked to an ISIS-inspired shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida in June 2016, he believed members of the LGBTQ community should be killed.

“He had thoughts of participating in an attack against the LGBTQ community in Singapore using guns, should one be initiated by others. However, he did not develop his violent ideations further,” ISD said.

Beyond ISIS, the youth supported other Islamist terrorist organisations, including Al-Qaeda and Hamas, and idolised figures such as Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki and perpetrators of the 2002 Bali bombings, particularly Imam Samudra.

After learning about the Bali bombings from an online documentary in February 2024, he drafted a mock attack targeting a nightclub in Bali using a downloaded map, although he made no further preparations.

Concealment, missed reporting opportunities and public warning

ISD said the youth was aware that his activities were unlawful and intentionally concealed his online behaviour to evade detection.

Despite this, he shared his extremist views with family members and some schoolmates. While several attempted to dissuade him, none reported him to authorities.

ISD noted that most youths investigated for radicalisation in recent years had shown early warning signs to those close to them, including expressing support for terrorist violence.

The agency urged the public to seek help early if they suspect someone may be radicalised, citing warning signs such as displaying extremist symbols, frequenting radical websites and sharing extremist views online.

ISD also announced the release of an 18-year-old Singaporean from detention last month under a suspension direction. Detained at age 15 in December 2022, he had supported Al-Qaeda and ISIS and considered attacks against non-Muslims.

During three years of detention, he underwent rehabilitation involving religious counselling by the Religious Rehabilitation Group and psychological support from ISD, while continuing his education and performing in the top 20 per cent of his cohort.

ISD said he no longer holds extremist beliefs or supports violence.

Separately, restriction orders for three Singaporeans, including Maksham bin Mohd Shah (aged 44) and Mohamed Khalim bin Jaffar (aged 63). They were allowed to lapse after they made good rehabilitation progress and no longer required close supervision, ISD said.