Malaysian police have reportedly arrested a senior member of global terror network Islamic State (IS) as well as 13 people suspected of being militants.
The Star Online reports that police also seized a ready-made Improvised Explosive Device (IED) — believed to weigh 1kg and capable of destroying a vehicle upon impact — reportedly kept to atatack top brass in federal police.
According to the report, the 14 suspects were caught in separate operations conducted between July 14 and 20 by Bukit Aman’s Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division in Selangor Perak, Kedah, Penang and Sabah.
The device was said to have been found, based on a lead by one of the militants, in a house in Kampung Melayu, Sungai Buloh.
Among the suspects were two cooks at a franchise restaurant in the Klang Valley, one student at a private university and another who worked as a mechanic, the news site reported.
Twelve of them reportedly belong to the same cell group as suspects detained last month, and are believed to have been taking orders from Malaysian militant Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi to strike against top officers in Bukit Aman.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was quoted as saying that one of the suspects had confessed to sharing information through the Telegram messaging app on how to make IEDs.
“He also claimed to have received orders from Muhammad Wanndy to make an IED for attacks in the Klang Valley,” Khalid was quoted as saying in a statement.
“Muhammad Wanndy also promised to supply him with a pistol through a middleman to defend himself against the police,” he was quoted further.
Khalid reportedly added that the 49-year-old man arrested in Kedah was a senior member of the terror group who actively recruiting members through secret usrah (talks) in Sik.
“He was also responsible for arranging safe passage for militants to head to Syria,” Khalid reportedly said.
