Suspects caught before they could launch attacks against politicians, non-Muslim targets
KUALA LUMPUR: Twelve individuals suspected to be involved with the Daesh group and planning to launch attacks on political party leaders and non-Muslims were detained in a special operation by the Anti-Terrorist Division of Bukit Aman.
The group, who had set up new Daesh cells in the country by promoting it in social media, planned to launch attacks in Malaysia and Indonesia after having recruited many members.
Principal assistant director of the Anti-Terrorism Division (E8) of Bukit Aman Special Branch Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said those detained comprised a local man, 10 Indonesian men and a woman, who also hails from Indonesia.
“The Malaysian suspects planned to carry out the attacks on political party leaders (in the country) as well as the non-Muslims as they claimed that they were suppressing and not respecting Islamic teachings and the Malay race,” he said at a press conference at Bukit Aman here yesterday.
All of them, who were between the ages of 22 and 36, were arrested during special operations beginning Sept 14 until Wednesday at several places around Miri in Sarawak, Penang, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor.
“They were also active in recruiting new members, especially Indonesian and Malaysian nationals through the spread of the Daesh ideology,” he said.
Ayob Khan revealed the group was among the 16 people who were detained in the special operation by the Anti-Terrorist Division of Bukit Aman in Sabah, Pahang, Johor, Penang, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur from Aug 10 until Wednesday.
He said three men, comprising two Indonesians and a local, were detained in an operation in Sabah.
“These three acted as facilitators in managing the Indonesian couple together with their three children who committed the suicide attack on a church in Jolo, Southern Philippines at the end of last year.”
The 25-year-old Indonesian male was detained in Keningau on July 10 while two local men, aged 21 and 26, were detained in Keningau and Tenom on Sept 6.
“The Indonesian male who worked as a farmer in an oil palm estate quarrelled with Abu Bakar Al Baghdadi, the leader of the Daesh group via telegram.
“The two local men were suspected to channel funds to terrorists in Southern Philippines and planned to go on a religious war (jihad) in Syria,” he added.
Ayob Khan said a woman of Indian nationality was detained on Aug 2 in Subang Jaya, near here. She was believed to be a member of the Sikh For Justice (SFJ) group which was banned in India.
The woman, who worked as a house cleaning assistant, was believed to have channelled funds to the SFJ group as a preparation.
All detainees were suspected to have committed offences under Chapter VIA — offences related to violence, Penal Code (Act 574).
− Bernama
