Singaporean authorities have detained 18-year-old Nick Lee Xing Qiu under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for allegedly plotting an attack on Muslims, inspired by the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings. Lee, identified as an “East Asian supremacist,” is the third Singaporean youth to be detained for far-right extremist ideologies.
According to Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD), Lee’s radicalisation began in early 2023 after encountering Islamophobic and far-right content online. He developed a deep hostility towards Muslims, consuming extremist propaganda for hours daily. In June 2023, he repeatedly watched the livestream of Brenton Tarrant’s attack, idolising the white supremacist who killed 51 worshippers in New Zealand.
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Lee’s aspirations included carrying out a mass attack on Muslims in Singapore using homemade firearms, knives, and Molotov cocktails. He allegedly planned to livestream the attack, mirroring Tarrant’s actions. The ISD stated that Lee had no set timeline for his attack, but he had explored ways to construct weapons and incite violence online.
Far-Right Ideology and Hate Propaganda
Lee identified as an “East Asian supremacist,” believing in the superiority of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese ethnicities while considering Malays, Muslims, Jews, Mexicans, and African Americans as threats. He also subscribed to the far-right “Great Replacement Theory,” fearing that Singapore’s Malay population was growing too rapidly.
His extremist beliefs escalated in 2024, when he obtained a sonnenrad tattoo—a symbol linked to neo-Nazi groups—and purchased T-shirts with far-right insignia. He attempted to recruit others by creating online propaganda encouraging attacks against Malays and Muslims, posting extremist content and glorifying past far-right terrorists.
Broader Security Concerns
Lee is the latest in a string of Singaporean youths radicalised by far-right extremism. In December 2020, a 16-year-old student was detained for planning machete attacks on two mosques. Another 16-year-old, radicalised by white supremacist propaganda, was placed under restrictions in 2023 after authorities found he aspired to conduct attacks overseas.
Singapore has taken a firm stance against extremism, with the ISD highlighting youth radicalisation as an increasing concern. Of the 52 self-radicalised individuals identified by the agency, 13 were aged 20 or younger.
Islamist Extremism Cases
While Lee’s case highlights the rise of far-right extremism in Singapore, the ISD also announced other terror-related detentions. A 34-year-old Malaysian cleaner, Saharuddin Saari, was arrested in November 2024 and repatriated for supporting armed violence in Syria and Gaza. Although he had no attack plans in Singapore, he expressed willingness to commit violence if he perceived the country as an enemy of Islam. Additionally, a 56-year-old Singaporean housewife, Hamizah Hamzah, was placed under ISA restrictions in January 2025 for her support of Islamist militant groups.
Gaming and Radicalisation
Lee’s radicalisation was partly fuelled by violent online gaming. He modified video games to simulate Tarrant’s attack, pretending to kill Muslims in a mosque. The UN has warned that extremists exploit video games to recruit and indoctrinate youth, with some games containing modifications that glorify real-life terror attacks.
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Singaporean authorities stress the need for vigilance, urging the public to report signs of radicalisation, such as frequent visits to extremist websites, expressions of support for terrorists, or incitement of violence. The ISD has reaffirmed that it will take firm action against anyone who promotes or prepares for violent attacks, regardless of ideology.