Malaysian cops thwart two terror plots planned for next month
PETALING JAYA: Two terror plots, which were thwarted with the arrest of two suspected militants in Kelantan, were supposed to be carried out next month.
The intended targets were police stations in Kelantan as well as non-Muslim houses of worship.
Sources said both men - a 28-year-old honey seller and a 35-year-old driving school employee - had planned to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on their intended targets.
They were carrying out instructions from Akel Zainal, who has been fighting for the Islamic State in Syria since Jan 3, 2014.
"The honey seller was ordered by Akel to attack police stations in Kelantan as well as non-Muslim houses of worship in the Klang Valley. Authorities believed that he was acting as a lone wolf," a source said.
At the time of the arrest, preparations were about 60 per cent complete, the source added.
Meanwhile, the driving school employee was also involved in smuggling firearms from a neighbouring country, another source said.
"He also learnt how to make IEDs. Authorities believed he was a member of Islamic State since early last year," he said.
The men were among seven suspects arrested by the Counter Terrorism Division between Nov 19 and 28.
The other five militants are three Malaysians, one of them a woman, and two Filipino men. They were detained in Sabah, Selangor and Kedah.
One of the Filipino men is a 45-year-old member of the Abu Sayyaf group.
It was learnt that the suspect, who was detained in Tawau, had been hiding in Sabah since 2011.
"Authorities believed he was acting as a scout for potential kidnap-for-ransom targets for the group," said a source.
Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun had said that the suspect was involved in at least three kidnap-for-ransom incidents in southern Philippines and Sabah besides being wanted for other crimes in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone.
The remaining suspects were arrested for multiple offences, including channelling funds to terror groups. - THE STAR
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