Counter Terrorism Unit Arrests 10 Suspected To Be Planning Bomb Attacks

An 11th suspect, believed to have links with militant groups, was arrested in Segambut on Thursday night. Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this brought the total of those arrested so far to 11.

“The police arrested the suspect when he tried to escape to a neighbouring country. That shows militant groups in the country are starting to fear the level of Malaysia’s security. “I will ensure that militant groups in the country will be eradicated until none remained, as we don’t want Malaysia to be labelled as a nest for terrorists in the world,” he said at a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.

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He said the government wanted to fix the world’s view on Islam, but the actions of small groups had worsened the name of Islam in the eyes of the world by launching acts of terrorism. “They use the name of religion in acts of terrorism, while Islam has never commanded its followers to resort to violence.”

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On Monday, the Counter-Terrorism Division of the Police Special Branch at Bukit Aman Federal Police headquarters arrested nine individuals, aged 22 to 55 years, in Kedah and Selangor, for alleged involvement in militant activities in and outside the country. That was followed by the arrest of a widow on Tuesday morning, who was believed to be linked to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah and had received military-style training.

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PETALING JAYA: Police have detained nine members of a militant cell planning to launch bomb attacks in Malaysia and other secular Muslim countries.

“All the individuals concerned are suspected of being involved in a militant group responsible for planning violent activities in the country as well as abroad. “They are also suspected of having links with terrorist groups operating outside the country,” he said in a statement, here today.

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The suspects aged between 22 and 55 include students, odd-job workers and professionals. Bukit Aman’s Special Branch Counter Terrorism Unit arrested them in nine simultaneous raids – six in Selangor and three in Kedah – between 5am and 7am yesterday.

Among those nabbed is a man in his 30s, said to be the brains behind the cell.

Another woman allegedly linked to a militant cell was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said the woman was among 10 suspects, including a widow, detained for allegedly planning to launch bomb attacks in Malaysia and other secular Muslim countries.

"She was arrested in the vicinity of KL this (Tuesday) morning. We are in the midst of tracking and identifying other members," he said this at a press conference here.

According to a source, items seized from the premises included maps and plans of government buildings and key installations and publications.

Ahmad Zahid said the ministry had also seized military-style uniforms, jihad books, rambo knives, samurai swords and the flag of an international terrorist group from the 10 individuals.

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Among the publications seized were books written by JI spiritual head Abu Bakar Bashir, who is in jail in Indonesia for inciting terror attacks and for funding terror cells in Acheh. Abu Bakar made international headlines for his involvement in the 2002 Bali Bombing, which killed 202 people.

It was learnt that the suspects shared similar objectives with known terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah. However, it has yet to be ascertained whether the suspects had direct ties to either of the groups.

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“This group has no political links but has ties with foreign terror cells,” the source said.

It is learnt that the group is also involved in recruiting fighters to Syria and authorities have also traced its indirect links to the al-Qaeda and JI terror groups.

Zahid Hamidi said that intelligence information revealed that they had networks within and outside the country and had participated in several jihad missions in countries that were undergoing turmoil. "They are doing things similar to what the Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah are doing under the guise of humanitarian missions," he said.

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“This group is against any Muslim country seen as secular and pro-democracy. “We believe our government and other governments are its intended targets in what it regards as Jihad Perang (Holy War),” the source told The Star, adding that Jihad Perang was also the same motto adopted by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

The cell is believed to have been operating since October last year and had recruited its members via Facebook.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar added in a statement that some of the suspects had held meetings in raided premises to promote their ideology, collect funds and conduct military training.

Khalid said besides strengthening the militant ideology, the individuals concerned were also found to be amassing funds and carrying out military-style training as a preparation to carry out violent activities.

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Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar congratulated the department over the detention of the nine people. “They will be investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) for being involved in militant groups responsible for planning terror attacks in the country and on foreign soil and for having links with foreign terror groups,” he said.

The source said police were now looking for the group’s weapon caches in the two states.