3 more IS members planning attacks arrested
KUALA LUMPUR: Special Branch counter-terrorism operatives have arrested three Islamic State (IS) members, including an Indonesian man, here.
The Indonesian was a member of the “wolf pack” cell that had plotted to attack non-Muslim places of worship and assassinate high-profile personalities here.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador said two Malaysian men were nabbed in Kedah on Tuesday while the Indonesian was detained in Selangor later on the same day.
“The first arrests were of two Malaysians in Kuala Muda, Kedah. The duo had been listed as wanted individuals the day before and had surrendered following the cooperation of their families.”
Hamid said the two men, both 27, were from Bedong, Kedah. One worked as a farmer and the other a burger seller.
He said both received bombmaking training in Jogjakarta from Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Ansharut Daulah, alongside another Malaysian detained in Sungai Petani on Nov 22.
Hamid said they learned how to make triacetone triperoxide, a chemical used in high-explosive bombs and generally used by militants in vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.
“(Apart from attacks in Malaysia), the two suspects were found to have scoped several churches in Jogjakarta as possible targets for attacks.”
Hamid said one of the two had planned to carry out suicide bombing and was looking at non-Muslim places of worship in Malaysia.
“The final arrest was made in Banting, Selangor.
“An Indonesian suspect, 34, was nabbed thanks to information from the public.
“The suspect was exposed to (IS) ideology while serving five years in prison in Surabaya.”
It is understood that the two Malaysians members were in a different cell than that of the Indonesian, the fifth member of the wolf pack detained by police since the beginning of the month.
Earlier this week, Hamid had announced that police had arrested four IS members planning large-scale attacks on non-Muslim places of worship and the assassination of high-profile personalities to “avenge” the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
The four were detained on May 5 and May 7 in Terengganu and the Klang Valley, he had said, adding that police were on the lookout for three other people believed to be involved in planning attacks.
Police nabbed the trio on Tuesday.