Seven Abu Sayyaf suspects detained
> Those arrested were Filipinos working as security guards at private companies
KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Aman counter-terrorism division has detained seven Filipino men, working as security guards at private companies in Klang Valley, suspected of being part of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the arrests on Sept 14 follow an earlier operation where eight ASG operatives were held for allegedly planning attacks during the 29th SEA Games and 60th Merdeka celebration.
“The seven suspects aged between 22 and 38 were working as security guards at private companies in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor,” Mohamad Fuzi said in a statement yesterday.
He said one of them, a 22-year-old, was also involved in clashes with Philippine security forces and kidnappings in the southern Philippines.
The suspects had used forged identification documents to slip into the country through Sandakan in Sabah before heading to Kuala Lumpur in September 2015.
Mohamad Fuzi added Bukit Aman has detained 41 foreign militants since early this year.
“The police will continue with follow-up operations to detect and detain foreign terrorists who make their way into Malaysia whether to hide, raise funds, launch attacks on the country or make it their operational base to strike a third country,” Mohamad Fuzi said.
In special operations carried out from July 4 to Aug 30 in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kelantan and Johor, police arrested eight locals and 11 foreigners suspected of being involved in terrorist activities.
The most notable of these arrests came on the morning of Aug 30, when the special action unit from Bukit Aman arrested eight individuals suspected of being involved with the Abu Sayyaf group in Cheras.
The group is one of the smallest and most violent terror groups in the southern Philippines, which had also carried out kidnappings in Sabah.
Mohamad Fuzi said the suspects were arrested under the Penal Code on suspicion of conducting terror activities and are being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Act 747).