24 January 2002 1452 hrs (GMT) 2252 hrs (SST) Ministry refuses comment on reported 8 terrorists on the run by Hwee Goh
Three of the 13 detained under of the ISA

The Home Affairs Ministry has declined comment on a report that eight suspected terrorists are on the run from Singapore after the detention of 13 people under the country's Internal Security Act.

According to a Reuters report, an unnamed Filipino police official said that Singapore had sent the names and passport numbers of the eight to all neighbouring countries.

The Filipino official added that the eight are Malays in their late-20s and mid-30s, the report said.

When contacted by Channel NewsAsia, Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry refused to comment.

Singapore has so far detained 13 men for allegedly plotting terrorist activities, including plans to attack military, diplomatic and business targets in the country.

The 13 belong to the Jemaah Islamiyah, a group linked to Al-Qaeda.

Singapore is working with the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia in its investigations.