4 HELD OVER TERROR PLOT TO ATTACK NON-MUSLIMS TO AVENGE ADIB

Wolf pack cell of IS militants planned large-scale attacks on places of worship and to kill high-profile individuals

FOUR men — who planned large-scale attacks on non-Muslim places of worship and the assassinations of high-profile individuals to “avenge” the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim — were detained earlier this month.

Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador said police were looking for three others believed to be involved in the planning of the attacks.

He said Special Branch CounterTerrorism Division operatives arrested the men, including two Rohingya men, in four operations on May 5 and 7 in Terengganu and the Klang Valley.

He said the operations were conducted after police received intelligence about a “wolf pack” cell of the Islamic State (IS) terror group planning to launch largescale attacks on Christian, Hindu and Buddhist places of worship in the Klang Valley, as well as entertainment outlets.

“All four have admitted to being members of an IS wolf pack cell and were ready to launch large-scale attacks in the first week of Ramadan.

“They were also planning the assassinations of high-profile personalities whom they accused of not defending Islam,” he said at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.

Hamid said the first man, a Malaysian, 34, was arrested on May 5 in Kuala Berang, Terengganu, where he was employed as a construction worker.

“From the man, police seized six improvised explosive devices brought in from a neighbouring country and a CZ 9mm semi-automatic pistol with 15 bullets.

“We believe that this man may have had contact with Malaysian IS leader Akil Zainal (whose real name is Wan Mohd Aquil Wan Zainal Abidin).

“The other arrests were made in the Klang Valley on May 7. Two of the men were Rohingya, 20 and 25, while the other was an Indonesian, 49.”

Hamid said two of the three men sought were from Taman Bedong in Kedah. He identified them as Syazani Mahzan and Muhamad Nuurul Amin Azizan.

“One Indonesian is called Fatir Tir, a construction worker whose last know address was in Jalan Toman in Banting.”

Those with information of the trio’s whereabouts can contact investigating officer Assistant Superintendent S. Manivanan at 017-3278435 or any police station.

All four have admitted to being members of an IS wolf pack cell and were ready to launch large-scale attacks in the first week of Ramadan. DATUK SERI ABDUL HAMID BADOR Inspector-General of Police