Terror Cell “Unfazed” by Earlier Arrests

The Straits Times

04 May 2016

Around the time that Singapore announced in January the arrest and deportation of 27 radicalised Bangladeshis under the Internal Security Act (ISA), S-Pass holder Rahman Mizanur, 31, came up with plans for an extremist group and began recruiting his countrymen.

By the time he was arrested some three months later, Rahman, who worked in construction, had reached out to at least 14 others.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that eight Bangladeshis, including Rahman, had been detained under the ISA, while at least two more members of the group are in Bangladesh.

… That this “kill list” includes “disbelievers” and cites Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and atheists points to the influence of ISIS ideology, said S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies associate research fellow Iftekharul Bashar.

Mr Bashar, who is Bangladeshi, said local extremist and terror groups in Bangladesh have been “reinvigorated” by the rise of ISIS, and a growing number have bought into its idea of a global Islamic caliphate in recent years.

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Last updated on 05/05/2016