Two Singaporeans detained for planning to join IS

Two Singaporeans were detained under the Internal Security Act in August for planning to join terror outfit Islamic State (IS), said Singapore's ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Wednesday.

The two men were detained in separate cases. Muhammad Shamin bin Mohamed Sidek, a 29-year-old man who was self-radicalised, incited violence through his pro-IS postings on social media, Xinhua news agency reported.

He continued to express unstinting support for the IS throughout his three-month imprisonment. Shamin said he was prepared to die in the course of defending the "caliphate" that was declared by IS.

Muhammad Harith Jailani, 18, was radicalised by IS online and prepared to join the militant group in Syria. As part of his preparation, he had collected information on how to travel to Syria and also tried to radicalise those around him to support IS's cause.

The detentions of Shamin and Harith underlined the persistent IS threat and the threat posed by self-radicalised Singaporeans, said MHA.

A few of the Singaporeans who have been detained were even prepared to carry out terrorist attacks in Singapore.