Preying on the ignorant

IS targets people with poor knowledge of Islam, say police

SUNGAI PETANI: The Islamic State (IS) is increasingly targeting people with little knowledge of Islam to become new recruits or sympathisers.

Their search for these new recruits is not confined to certain demographic areas but is quite widespread due to their use of the social media.

While certain sources indicated that urban and suburban centres like Alor Setar and Sungai Petani are mainly targeted by IS recruiters, Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ayob Khan said that was not the case now.

“They can reach almost anyone but they target those with low knowledge of Islam and often those with questionable past.

“With their twisted brand of Islam, the terror group offers its prospective recruits a chance to repent by serving the group,” the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division head told The Star yesterday.

While the recruits receive no money upon joining the terror group, SAC Ayob said certain senior members were responsible for raising funds and securing safe passages for those wanting to fight in Syria.

“There are also those responsible for spreading the IS propaganda through booklets and newsletters online.

“We are working with other relevant authorities to trace and shut the sites down,” he said.

One of the tactics to recruit militants was to “promise” beautiful women to them, added SAC Ayob.

“They were shown pictures of beautiful women that they can choose for themselves once they reach Syria.

“This is just only one of the lies of the terror group,” he said.

Recently, police detained a senior IS member and 13 other suspected militants, and seized a ready-made improvised explosive device (IED) meant to be used to attack Bukit Aman top brass.

The 14 were picked up by the Counter Terrorism Division in Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Penang and Sabah between July 14 and July 20.

It is learnt that the 1kg IED, capable of destroying a vehicle upon impact, was stored in a house in Kampung Melayu, Sungai Buloh, that one of the militants led the police to.

Prior to that, 15 others were arrested following the bomb attack at the Movida nightclub in Puchong. At least 13 were from Kedah.

SAC Ayob said what they feared most was the possibility that the terrorist cell might have more explosives in storage or has acquired the expertise to make a more sophisticated one.

“We also fear that they may try to smuggle in more explosives from a neighbouring country. We have to remain vigilant and not allow that to happen,” he said.

While certain cells received orders from known militant Muhammad Wandy Mohamed Jedi, there are those who do not cooperate or communicate with others.

“This is their way of ensuring that if one cell is caught, the others are still safe from the authorities,” he added.

SAC Ayob said the number one priority for the division was to gather credible intelligence to thwart future attacks.

“It does not take a group or a whole cell to carry an attack.

“As proven in other parts of the world, it only takes a lone wolf attack to create chaos and destruction,” he said.

Since 2013, 30 known militants have been from Kedah.

This included former PAS leader and ISA detainee like the late Mohd Lotfi Ariffin, who fought and died in Syria in September 2014.

By merely googling Mohd Lotfi’s name, The Star discovered a number of blogs and Facebook postings that revered him as a martyr or a freedom fighter.

A total of 229 militants have been arrested since 2013 with Perak topping the list with 32.