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Internal Security Department (ISD) is an agency of the Government of Singapore under the hierarchy of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a ministry of interior. It was formerly part of the Ministry of the Interior and Defence until it was split in 11 August 1970.

Its stated mission is to confront and address security threats including international terrorism, foreign subversion and espionage. The ISD also monitors and addresses potential threats from communalism or racial and religious extremism, stating that this is to ensure stability as Singapore is a multi-ethnic society.

The powers of investigation and arrest by the ISD are regulated by several laws, including

• Criminal Procedure Code
• Official Secrets Act
• Internal Security Act
• Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act

Contents 1 History 2 Timeline 3 References 4 External links

ISD was first established as the Special Branch in 1948 by the British colonial government. In 1963, it became part of the Malaysian Special Branch when Singapore joined the Malayan Federation. After Singapore gained independence, Internal Security Department was formally established on 17 February 1966.

See also: Timeline of Singaporean history

These events are related to ISD and internal security of Singapore.

• 1950, Maria Hertogh riots
• 1963, arrest of left-wing politicians and trade unionists during Operation Coldstore
• 1964, 21 July - 8 September, Chinese-Malay riots, took place on Prophet Muhammad's birthday
• 1965, 10 March, MacDonald House bombing by Indonesian saboteurs killed 3 people, during the konfrontasi period
• 1966, arrest of 22 members of Barisan Sosialis.
• 1969, communal clashes spillover from May 13 Ethnic Riots - Malaysia
• 1974, 31 January, Laju incident, Japanese Red Army bombed petroleum tanks at Pulau Bukom and hijacked a ferry boat
• 1982, uncovered Singapore People's Liberation Organisation activities
• 1982, two Russian spies exposed for espionage activities
• 1985, local network of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam uncovered
• 1987, arrest of 22 alleged pro-Marxist activists during Operation Spectrum
• 1991, four Pakistanis hijacked Singapore Airlines Flight 117
• 1997, 1998, six arrested for involvement in espionage and foreign subversive activities
• 2001, 9 December, members of Jemaah Islamiyah arrested for bomb plot [1]

• Internal Security Department