KL releases pics of Palestinian’s killers
Israel denies Mossad link to shooting
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police released computer-generated photographs yesterday of two men suspected of gunning down a Palestinian man in Kuala Lumpur, adding that alerts have been put out at all the country’s exit points.
Two men on a motorcycle fired at least 14 shots at Fadi al-Batsh, an engineering lecturer, in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, killing him on the spot.
Hamas, an Islamist militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, accused Israel’s Mossad spy agency of assassinating Batsh, who they say was a member of their group. Israel dismissed the charge.
The photographs of the suspects are based on descriptions by witnesses, police chief Mohamad Fuzi Bin Harun told reporters.
They show two light-skinned suspects who may be European or Middle Eastern. Both men are about 180 cm tall with sturdy builds, the police chief said, according to a recording of his comments.
Both suspects were on a high-powered, dark-coloured motorbike which could be a BMW or a Kawasaki. Both were also carrying backpacks and have on dark jackets and helmets.
The photos showed one suspect wearing a helmet and glasses.
A forensic examination found that the victim died of multiple injuries to his head and body. Fourteen bullets were found.
“We will send some of the bullets collected to our analysis experts to determine what kind of weapon was used in this heinous killing,” Mr Mohamad Fuzi said.
He said they were not sure whether the men were still in Malaysia.
“We cant close off our exits and we don’t have any other information apart from the photofit,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Saturday the suspects were believed to be Europeans with links to a foreign intelligence agency.
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman dismissed claims of Mossad’s role in the murder and said it was likely that Batsh was killed as part of an internal Palestinian dispute.
Batsh’s family has requested for his body to be buried in Gaza.
Mossad has been accused of several high-profile killings involving Palestinians around the world, although Israel has consistently denied the accusations.
The spy agency was accused of executing the murder of Hamas military commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in his hotel room in Dubai in 2010. In 2016, Hamas blamed Mossad for the killing of a Tunisian national it described as one of its drone experts.
In recent weeks, tensions have been running high at the Gaza-Israel border as Palestinians have ramped up protests demanding the right to return to homes that are now in Israel.
Israel’s use of live fire, killing at least 35 Palestinians, has drawn international criticism. Israel says it is protecting its borders and takes such action when protesters come too close to the border fence.
In Kuala Lumpur, two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, are on trial for murdering the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by smearing his face with a toxic chemical early last year.