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In Sinagpur (picture), a 16-year-old probably wanted to imitate the Christchurch attacks
Photo: WALLACE WOON / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
According to the authorities, a 16-year-old has planned a terrorist attack in Singapore.
He wanted to imitate the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019 with 51 dead.
The youth has made detailed plans and preparations to also commit acts of terrorism against Muslims on the second anniversary of the double attack - March 15, the Asian city-state's Ministry of Homeland Security said.
The authorities cited "a strong aversion to Islam and a fascination for violence" as the motive.
The identity of the boy arrested in December was not disclosed.
According to the ministry, he is a Protestant of Indian origin.
The youth radicalized himself and had no accomplices.
As a murder weapon, he wanted to use a machete.
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Crime scene in Christchurch almost two years ago
Photo: MARTY MELVILLE / AFP
The Christchurch assassin Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life imprisonment for the double attack last August.
Such a sentence had never existed in New Zealand until that day.
Younger is said to have called the assassin a "saint"
He had broadcast the attacks on social media.
“It was clear from the terrorist plans and preparations that the youth had been influenced by the deeds and the Tarrant Manifesto,” the ministry said.
After the planned acts, he wanted to distribute two documents.
In one he called Tarrant a "saint".
The youth himself told the police that he expected to die in the attacks.
According to the authorities, the 16-year-old is the youngest suspect arrested in Singapore in connection with terrorist charges.
Singapore's nearly six million people are descendants of the Chinese, Indians and Malays.
There are also around 1.5 million foreign workers.
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Taoism all have significant communities in the wealthy city-state.
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