Days after the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) declared its caliphate in June 2014, Singaporean Imran Kassim took an oath of allegiance to the group’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He tried to make his way to Syria at least twice and was so deeply radicalised that he was prepared to attack Singapore Armed Forces troops deployed in the global coalition against ISIS, or hold them as hostages to demand ransom from the Government.

He was one of two Singaporeans arrested in July for terror-related activities.

S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies senior analyst Jasminder Singh said Imran probably had an interest in joining the conflict in Syria and used the humanitarian mission as an “excuse” to travel there.

“There will be more scrutiny of humanitarian groups now. They have to… be on the lookout for individuals who might be radicalised and use this opportunity to join armed groups,” he said.

“We cannot let Singapore’s image in humanitarian circles be tainted.”