Operation against Jemaah Islamiyah in Singapore begins

Following the terrorist attacks in the United States (US) on 11 September 2001, a member of the public provided a tip off in the same month that a Singaporean, Mohammad Aslam bin Yar Ali Khan (henceforth referred to as Aslam), had claimed to know Al-Qaeda (AQ) leader Osama bin Laden and to have fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan. The Internal Security Department (ISD) launched an investigation into Aslam and his associates and uncovered a local cell of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a clandestine group that aimed to establish a Daulah Islamiyah, or Islamic State, in Southeast Asia through violent means. ^[1]

ISD’s operation began on 8 December 2001. Between 9 and 24 December 2001, ISD arrested a number of persons suspected of being linked to Aslam and the JI network. Subsequently, 13 persons were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) as they were found to be active JI members who had carried out reconnaissance of targets for terrorist attacks and provided support such as securing safe houses, and the transportation and procurement of materials for making bombs.^[2]

As investigations into JI continued, more individuals were identified positively as members of the network. In September 2002, another 18 persons were detained. These were 17 JI members and one member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a militant separatist group in the Philippines.^[3]

Investigations also revealed that the Singapore JI members were involved in at least six different plans to attack foreign and local assets in Singapore. Preparations for the terrorist attacks in Singapore had begun as early as 1997, with the reconnaissance of Yishun Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Station and the plan to attack the shuttle bus service that ferried US personnel and their families from Sembawang to Yishun MRT Station.  The reconnaissance videotape was sent to a senior AQ leader in Afghanistan sometime in 1999. This same videotape, some handwritten documents in Arabic and sketch maps of Yishun were found among the rubble of the senior AQ leader’s home in Afghanistan by US forces. ISD was informed of the discovery by US officials on 14 December 2001 when ISD briefed them about the JI arrests in December 2001.^[4]

Singapore JI members were also involved in an AQ plot to set off simultaneous multiple truck-bomb attacks against selected foreign missions and other assets in Singapore. In October 2001, three JI members brought an AQ operative codenamed “Sammy” and Indonesian JI bombmaker and instructor codenamed “Mike” around Singapore to conduct reconnaissance of selected sites. They were also tasked to acquire 17 tonnes of ammonium nitrate for the making of truck-bombs and to scout for appropriate sites for constructing the bombs. One of them managed to contact a local supplier to purchase the ammonium nitrate, but was arrested before the deal could be sealed.^[5]

Other attacks that Singapore JI members had planned include a sea-borne bomb attack against US ships by using a small vessel, an attack on US assets at the Paya Lebar Air Base, as well as sabotage and attacks against local installations such as waterworks and water pipelines, Changi Airport and the radar station at Biggin Hill, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence and the MRT system.^[6]

ISD’s security operations had prevented JI’s terrorist attempts in Singapore, but JI was successful elsewhere in the region. Some examples include the bombing of churches in Indonesian cities on Christmas Eve in 2000, the Metro Manila bombings on Rizal Day in the Philippines and the October 2002 Bali bombings.^[7]

Although the JI network in Singapore was effectively crippled by the security operations, continued investigations prevented the JI from regrouping, and those who had fled overseas in the wake of security operations were tracked down.  Most of the JI fugitives have been apprehended over the years through ISD’s close cooperation with its foreign partners.^[8]

References
1. Ministry of Home Affairs. (2003). The Jemaah Islamiyah arrests and the threat of terrorism: White paper (p. 26). Singapore: Ministry of Home Affairs.Call no.: RSING q303.625095957 SIN.
2. The case against Jemaah Islamiah. (2002, May 31). The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Ministry of Home Affairs, 2003, pp. 1, 26.
3. Ministry of Home Affairs, 2003, pp. 1, 26.
4. Ministry of Home Affairs, 2003, pp. 26, 28–29; The Straits Times, 31 May 2002, p. 2.
5. Ministry of Home Affairs, 2003, pp. 26–28; Teo, A. (2002, January 12). ISD’s chilling account of terrorist plans. The Business Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Ng, B. Y. (2002, January 12). Three deadly cells. Today, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Ministry of Home Affairs, 2003, pp. 29–30.
7. International Crisis Group. (2002, December 11) Indonesia Backgrounder: How the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists network operates. Retrieved from International Crisis Group website: http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/indonesia/043-indonesia-backgrounder-how-the-jemaah-islamiyah-terrorist-network-operates.aspx; Bombs rock Indonesia Christmas celebrations (2000, December 25). ABC News. Retrieved from ABC News website: http:/abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=81856; Felipe, C.S., and Mananghaya, J. (2006, December 19). After CBCP rally, PNP prepares for Rizal day bombing anniversary. Retrieved from The Philippine Star website: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/375735/after-cbcp-rally-pnp-prepares-rizal-day-bombing-anniversary; Bali terror attacks remembered. (2006, October 13). Today, p. 18. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. (2002, September 19). Singapore government press statement on further arrests under the Internal Security Act [Press release]. Retrieved July 27, 2015, from National Archives of Singapore website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline