The terrorist threat to Singapore changed dramatically in the last 25 years. Enhanced communication, travel and migration to Singapore in the 1990s and 2000s enhanced the threat to Singapore. Increased globalisation created opportunities for insurgent, terrorist and extremist groups to recruit from and infiltrate into Singapore for fundraising and procurement. The developments in South Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan), the Middle East (Syria and Iraq) and Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia) impacted on Singapore’s environment. The highly charged international and regional security environment challenged Singapore’s security.

The government of Singapore comprehended the changing threat land-scape. The government, working with industry and community partners, built a security architecture to protect Singapore from internal and external threats. Due to increased investment in security and by creating a dynamic system, Singapore has not suffered from terrorism. Nonetheless, the threat to Singapore both from operational terrorism and ideological extremism has not subdued. Singapore’s geopolitical position and geostrategic orientations make her a target. In Southeast Asia, Singapore is the most prized target. The complexity of security in the region, including Singapore, changed with the rise of the Islamic State (IS) and the declaration of an Islamic Caliphate. With threats from both Al-Qaeda and IS families of groups, Singapore is threatened by groups from overseas, home-grown cells and individuals from within Singapore. Influenced by virulent Al-Qaeda and IS threat-centric ideologies, organised groups from abroad and a tiny segment of self-radicalised Singaporeans and residents threaten Singapore.