breaking news

The Singaporean government has detained 15 suspected terrorists under the Internal Security Act for planing to bomb targets in the republic and carrying out other terrorism-related activities.

According to Singapore's Straits Times online today, some of those detained had undergone training in al-Qaeda terrorist camps in Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda is the terror network helmed by Osama bin Laden which is blamed for the Sept 11 attacks on the United States.

In a statement released earlier today, the Singapore government said searches of the suspects' homes and offices revealed detailed information on bomb-making, photographs and video footage on potential targets in the republic.

Also discovered were al-Qaeda-linked material, tampered passports and forged immigration stamps.

The statement added that the Internal Security Department arrested the suspects between Dec 9 and 24. All the suspects are Singaporean except for one who is now a Malaysian citizen.

The arrests were announced a day after Malaysian police said they have detained 13 people believed to be members of the Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) - a militant group alleged to have undergone guerilla warfare training in Afghanistan.

One of those detained was said to be linked to the al-Qaeda.

Malaysian links

The Straits Times added that the suspects detained in Singapore were also involved in raising money for terrorist groups and were also trying to obtain materials to make bombs.

It said 13 of the suspects are said to be members of secret organisation called Jemaah Islamiah.

The report also said that key figures in the organisation, including several already in detention, have links to militant elements in Malaysia and Indonesia.

One of them is known as Hambali who also uses the aliases Nurjawan and Riduan Isamuddin and is wanted by Malaysian police.

Another key figure is Abu Jibril who is currently under ISA detention in Malaysia for his alleged links with KMM.