ALBANIAN AMONG 8 TERROR SUSPECTS DETAINED
They comprise Abu Sayyaf members, an IS-linked Albanian and two locals
POLICE arrest eight suspected terrorists in three states in a series of raids from Sept 6. The four Malaysians, three Filipinos and one Albanian are linked to terror groups such as the Islamic State and Abu Sayyaf. One of them is a recruiter for al-Qaeda.
EIGHT suspected terrorists were arrested in three states by police in a series of operations from Sept 6 to last Friday. Among them were those linked to Abu Sayyaf from the southern Philippines, an Albanian linked to the Islamic State (IS) and two locals, who were known al-Qaeda supporters plotting attacks while in prison.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the arrests were made in Sabah, Selangor and Perak.
“The first (operation) carried out under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) saw five men arrested in Sandakan on Sept 27.”
The five men comprised two Malaysians, two Filipinos and a Filipino with a permanent resident status in the country.
“Those detained are suspected of bringing in Abu Sayyaf terror elements into Malaysia through Sabah,” Fuzi said in a statement.
It is learnt that one of the Malaysians, aged 53, is the main suspect responsible for bringing Abu Sayyaf members into the country.
The latest operation follows the police probe into the arrest of 15 suspects held separately in operations in the Klang Valley between July 4 and Sept 14.
The Albanian, 35, a guest speaker at a public university who police believe has links to IS, was detained in Selangor on Oct 1.
Police sources revealed that the man had studied at a public university here in 2013.
“We also believe he had plans to open a private school in Albania, and was linked to several private institutions,” the sources said.
Fuzi said two days ago, police arrested two former Sosma detainees, aged 37 and 53, in Tapah.
The duo had been previously detained in February 2013 for their involvement in militant activities, and were sentenced to seven years’ jail in January last year.
They were recently released from prison before their latest arrest. The older suspect was convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
“He was suspected of recruiting detainees to join terror groups while in Tapah Prison, and had planned attacks on temples, churches and mosques to spark conflict between (different religious groups),” Fuzi said.
The man is also suspected of concealing information from authorities regarding members of al-Qaeda, who are on the police’s wanted list.
Police said the role of the other ex-detainee was as the righthand man to the older suspect.
He is also believed to be the recruiter responsible for enticing two Malaysians into joining alQaeda.
The Special Branch CounterTerrorism Division (SBCT-D) had carried out operations between July 4 and Aug 30 here and in Selangor, Kelantan and Johor.
The division had arrested eight locals and 11 foreigners suspected of being involved in terrorist activities.
Of the 19, eight were suspected Abu Sayyaf members, who had allegedly planned attacks during the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games and the 60th Merdeka celebration.
They were arrested in Cheras on Aug 30, before another seven of their comrades, aged between 22 and 28, were tracked down on Sept 14.
The seven suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists were all working as security guards here and in Selangor at the time of the arrests.
Fuzi, who formerly headed the Federal Counter-Terrorism Division, was quoted as saying that one of those arrested in the second operation was identified as an Abu Sayyaf hardcore member, aged 22, who was involved in armed clashes with Philippine armed forces and several kidnappings in southern Philippines.
It is believed that the arrests of the five on Sept 27 are linked to the two earlier operations. To date, 70 foreign terrorist fighters have been arrested by SBCT-D.
When Fuzi took over the responsibility of leading the police force, he had said that tackling the threat of terrorism would be a priority.
Page 1 pic: Police arresting suspected terrorists in an antiterror operation.