Singapore Mosque Attack Plot: No Open Trial For Indian-origin Teen

There will be no open trial for the teenager detained last month in Singapore for planning attacks on two mosques. Making the details of the teenager’s motives public may run the risk of deepening religious divides, said Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam.

The 16-year-old of Indian descent is the youngest person to be detained under the country’s Internal Security Act, a provision that allows detention without trial.

Inspired by Brenton Tarrant who killed 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand’s Christchurch in 2019, the teen, a Protestant Christian, had allegedly planned to knife worshippers and stream the attack live on the second anniversary of the Christchurch attack, authorities have said, adding that he had planned to use a rifle but found it tough, given Singapore’s strict gun control laws.

“I think we agree that he is capable of doing harm. And until he’s rehabilitated, if we leave him out, and if he carries out what he intends to do, I think we’ll all be very sorry,” said Shanmugam, who is also the law minister.