Analyst sees disturbing trend in timing of attacks
KUALA LUMPUR: Following backto-back suicide bombings in Manchester, the United Kingdom, and Jakarta, Indonesia, a counter terrorism expert has observed a disturbing trend.
Andrin Raj said that while the evolving threat had no significance to the Ramadan, the timing of the attacks over the past years were similar in nature.
“The pattern follows similar dates of attacks, which is very disturbing. The dates of past five attacks took place on the 22nd of the month.
“I fear that probably, a bigger attack will take place somewhere in the near future,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Andrin was asked to give his views on the two attacks which took place just days between each other, killing 25 people and wounding many others.
Andrin said the threat had a pattern that the authorities concerned must analyse and investigate further.
“The threat that is evolving globally is telling us something bigger will come soon,” he said.
On the spate of recent terror attacks, including those in Mindanao and Bangkok, which Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said were linked to the killing of Malaysian Islamic State (IS) terrorist Muhammad Wanndy Jedi, Andrin said: “The attacks in Southeast Asia are a warning to Asian governments that IS is present and that they are now in control.”
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) political and international studies senior lecturer Md
Shukri Shuib said the international community had to condemn the Jakarta bombings, which was not only “traitorous” to Indonesia, but also to humanity and peace.
He warned that the spate of attacks was a sign that the militants were expanding their barbaric culture.
“Malaysia has to assist and cooperation with Indonesia to tackle and combat these radicals.
“These culprits have signalled their intention to act radically. So now, Asean has to come up with a closer and stronger cross-border cooperation among security personnel.
“This is crucial in order to eliminate the threat, and to secure the region from becoming a region of bullets and death,” he said, adding that “Helping thy neighbour” was a principle that must become a core value of Asean to counter terrorism.