Two Singaporeans have been detained for supporting and harbouring the intention to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the two men, 36-year-old Kuthubdeen Haja Najumudeen and 47-year-old Suderman bin Samikin, were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in May and July 2019 respectively.

Both men had been radicalised by extremist material encountered online.

Radicalised by mastermind of Sri Lanka bombing

In the case of Haja, MHA noted that he was radicalised by the Sri Lankan preacher Zahran Hashim, one of the suicide bombers and mastermind of the terrorists attacks on April 21, which killed more than 250 people and injured 500 others.

Haja, a licensed money-changer, had listened to Zahran's online religious lectures and regularly contacted him for religious guidance.

Haja also made three trips to Sri Lanka to visit Zahran between May 2015 and October 2016.

He also donated funds to Zahran and his group, the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ).

However, investigations have not revealed if Haja was involved in, or had prior knowledge of, the April 21 attacks in Sri Lanka.

Sought to join ISIS but changed his mind

Haja developed an interest in ISIS when he came across news of the terrorist group online.

He had searched for online for videos of the group, including their beheading videos, as well as recording of their terrorist attacks in Paris, France, in November 2015.

In supporting ISIS's so-called caliphate and undertaking armed jihad, Haja began conducting research into joining ISIS in Syria from 2015 onwards.

However, he eventually changed his mind as he feared being killed or injured, although his support for ISIS continued until May 2019, when he was arrested.

Radicalised by the preachings of a deceased Al-Qaeda member

As for Suderman, MHA noted that he had been radicalised by ISIS's propaganda and the lectures of the deceased Al-Qaeda ideology Anwar al-Awlaki sometime in 2013.

At that time, Suderman had been searching for information regarding the Syrian conflict.

MHA highlighted that the former delivery assistant soon bought into ISIS's ideology and was prepared, by February 2014, to take up arms in Syria under ISIS and become a matyr.

Intended to help two ISIS members who wanted to visit Singapore

As such, Suderman eventually joined a pro-ISIS Facebook in April 2014, reportedly created by an ISIS fighter based in Syria.

Here, Suderman sought advice on how to travel to Syria, and became acquainted with other foreign pro-ISIS members of the group.

Suderman was also prepared to help two of such members who wanted to visit Singapore to purchase tactical gear ahead of their participation in the conflict in Syria.

However, their visit did not materialise in the end.

Suderman also also offered one of the members financial assistance to undertake armed violence in

Syria.

In turn, the duo invited Suderman to join an overseas pro-ISIS group that they were also involved in.

Arrested under ISA upon being released for drugs

MHA reported that prior to being arrested under ISA in July 2019, Suderman had been in prison for drugs from July 2014 to June 2019.

The press release noted that he harboured intentions to join ISIS while in prison.

As such, he was arrested by ISA upon his release.

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