Minister of Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam said on 23 May that threats were made against Singapore mentioning the September 11 attacks, by the supporters of Indonesian extremist preacher Abdul Somad Batubara.
Somad was denied entry into Singapore, along with 6 of his travel companions, on 16 May at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, before being sent back to Batam.
Shanmugam highlighted one of the threats made by Somad’s supporters on Instagram, calling Singapore an “Islamophobic country” and said its leaders had 48 hours to apologise to the people of Indonesia.
The user also threatened to expel Singapore’s ambassador to Indonesia and send troops to attack Singapore “like 9/11 in New York 2001” if their demands were not met.
Shanmugam also highlighted another comment that said that “Singapore must be bombed again, we will destroy Singapore immediately, destroy the unjust leaders on this earth, including Singapore, small country yet so arrogant, its just one missile and you’re finished.”
The post has since been removed by Instagram and the user has been banned for violating the platform’s community guidelines.
Shanmugam said that the threats shouldn’t be dismissed, he added that “parallels are being drawn with 9/11, parallels are being drawn with Singaporeans being led by non-Islamic leaders and that Singapore should be attacked, Singaporean interests should be attacked.”