Three fugitive terrorists nabbed

Bomb experts among trio held following capture of four from IS ‘wolf pack’

Bomb experts among terrorists arrested. Four, including foreigners, were caught earlier.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested three Islamic State (IS) militants including two bomb experts in Kedah and Selangor.

Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador said this followed the arrests of four militants belonging to the IS “wolf pack” terror cell recently.

He said the men – two Malaysians and an Indonesian – were arrested by the Counter Terrorism Division on Tuesday.

“The Malaysians – Muhammad Syazani Mahzan and Muhamad Nuurul Amin Azizan – were picked up in Kuala Muda.

“Both suspects, aged 27, went for training to make bombs in Jogjakarta in 2018 with militant Muhammad Izham Razani who was arrested in November last year,” he said in a statement.

Abdul Hamid said the training was conducted by Jemaah Ansharut Daulah Indonesia.

“They learned how to make Triacetone triperoxide.

“Both suspects also cased a few churches in Jogjakarta for potential targets.

“Muhammad Syazani had also planned to target a non-Muslim house of worship in Malaysia via a suicide bomb attack,” he said.

Triacetone triperoxide is a homemade explosive that can be easily manufactured from readily accessible reagents and is extremely difficulttodetect.

Abdul Hamid said the Indonesian, identified as Nuruddin Alele@Fatin Tir, was arrested in Banting.

“He was introduced to the Islamic State’s ideology when he was incarcerated for five years in Surabaya.

“As per the order received from his terror cell, he also planned to launch attacks on non-Muslim houses of worship in the Klang Valley,” said Abdul Hamid, adding that the three were detained under Security Offences Special Measures (Sosma) 2012.

According to sources, only the Indonesian militant belonged to the wolf pack while the Malaysians had links but belonged to another cell.

It was reported on Monday that four members of the IS wolf pack cell were detained in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley.

They were planning to assassinate four VIPs and target non-Muslim houses of worship in the Klang Valley as well as entertainment outlets.

Six improvised explosive devices were also seized during the raids along with a CZ9mm pistol and 15 bullets.