Concerts by Coldplay and Mayday in January, Ed Sheeran in February, and Taylor Swift in March – drew a combined total of around 840,000 visitors. - Photo: ST file
SINGAPORE: To fans of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, their National Stadium concerts gave Singaporeans a chance to see their idols in person, and to have mass sing-along sessions.
But to terrorists, large gatherings like concerts, sporting events and Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) events can offer them opportunities to inflict maximum damage to Singapore’s reputation as a safe country for its people and tourists, said some experts.
In its annual report on terrorism released on Thursday (July 25), Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said the terrorism threat here has been elevated since the Israel-Hamas war, which broke out on Oct 7, 2023.
It said there has been more anti-Singapore rhetoric on social media from regional extremist elements, with some regional netizens perceiving Singapore to be pro-Israel.
ISD said Singapore continues to be viewed as an attractive target, and the terrorism threat to Singapore is real, and remains high. Hence, it is important for Singapore to always remain vigilant.
Counter-terrorism experts and a religious teacher told The Straits Times that while there is no indication of an imminent attack, Singapore cannot let its guard down.
They offered several reasons why Singapore would make an attractive target for terrorists.
Dr Noor Huda Ismail, a visiting fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said Singapore’s mix of different religions and ethnicities can be exploited by terrorists to create conflict and division.
He said no country is immune to terrorism and Singapore may be viewed as a target due to its high visibility and symbolic value.
He added: “Being a prosperous and stable country, any attack on Singapore would attract a lot of international attention. It could also be seen as a strike against modernity, globalisation and secular government, which extremist groups often oppose.”
As Singapore is dubbed the events hub in Asia, conferences and concerts can be likely targets for terrorist attacks, said Dr Noor Huda, whose work focuses on terrorism in the region.
Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at policy and business consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, said holding concerts and conferences is not new for Singapore and they have long been security risks for possible terror attacks.
Dr Mustafa, who is also a visiting professor in international relations at the Islamic University of Indonesia, noted: “Singapore has been able to protect itself from terror threats thus far due to its effective intelligence, collective resilience, constant vigilance, strong cultural cohesion and robust social compact in state-society relations.”
But terrorists have succeeded elsewhere.
On May 22, 2017, an Islamic extremist bombed the Manchester Arena after a concert by American pop singer Ariana Grande. A total of 22 people, including children, were killed.
On March 22, 2024, ISIS-Khorasan gunmen killed more than 140 people at a concert hall in Moscow.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in June at the annual Singapore Tourism Awards that Singapore, as one of the world’s most popular destinations for business meetings and Mice events, is looking to bring in more concerts and festivals.
In May, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said concert tourism is a growth area to be tapped, and one that has unlocked a potential that was previously latent.
Concerts by Coldplay and Mayday in January, Ed Sheeran in February, and Taylor Swift in March drew a combined total of around 840,000 visitors. The shows were held at the 55,000-capacity National Stadium.
Dr Mustafa said other targets in Singapore could include foreign embassies, big buildings, airports and iconic architecture.
“These places may be deemed as targets because they appear easy enough to carry out the attacks on and can produce a big bang spectacle for the world to take notice,” he said.
Results of a national-level survey, published in the ISD report, showed just 49 per cent of over 2,000 Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 15 and above believe that Singapore is a target for terrorist attacks.
Dr Mustafa found the statistic concerning, saying: “The 49 per cent is a wake-up call that complacency has crept in and reflects a mindset that ‘nothing is going to happen to us as we are a safe and secure country’.
“One terrorist attack can have grave consequences for us as a small country with a multicultural society. Prevention is therefore better than cure for Singapore when it comes to terror threats.”
In its report, ISD said self-radicalisation continues to be the primary threat driver in Singapore and youth radicalisation is of particular concern.
Of the 52 self-radicalised individuals dealt with under the Internal Security Act since 2015, 13 were aged 20 or younger.
Ustaz Mohamed Ali, co-chairman of the Religious Rehabilitation Group, which counsels detainees, said this shows that terrorist groups like ISIS can mobilise and indoctrinate young people using online propaganda, even if they have lost territory and military capabilities.
He said: “We live in a connected world where we are exposed to developments overseas like the Israel-Hamas conflict. It is natural, as human beings, to have feelings or grievances about these events.
“But this is where engagement is critical to help guide their sentiments and direct them to the right avenues to express their feelings.”
Ustaz Mohamed said terrorism does not happen in a vacuum and is a consequence of extremist ideologies.
He added: “We need to ensure our society does not subscribe to extremist sentiments. It’s a whole-of-society approach – parents and teachers are our first line of defence to monitor the online activities of children.”
Dr Noor Huda said the key is for Singaporeans to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity early.
He added: “It is very worrying if citizens let their guard down and become complacent about terrorist attacks happening in Singapore. No one should be complacent, as the terror threat that Singapore faces is a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’.” - The Straits Times/ANN
