10 IS suspects held

KUALA LUMPUR: Six Malaysian security forces members and two civil servants were among 10 people detained by police on Wednesday for aiding terrorism activities linked to the Islamic State (IS) and plotting to launch bloody attacks here.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today the remaining two who were detained were a former interior designer and a kindergarten teacher.
He said the eight men and two women who are aged between 24 and 42 were picked up in separate but simultaneous raids in Perlis, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan and Malacca by members of the federal Special Branch's counter-terrorism unit.
Investigations showed that the individuals who belonged to separate cell groups were involved in a plan to acquire firearms to launch armed attacks in Malaysia.
Khalid said they were also responsible for recruiting Malaysians to join the IS in Syria and facilitated their departure to the country.
He said checks also showed the suspects collected funds and had assisted Malaysian militants returning from Syria to sneak into the country undetected.
Khalid said the suspects were held for investigations for terrorism under laws of the Penal Code and Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, (Sosma).
Despite efforts by police to contain the growth of IS-linked militant activities here, Malaysians continue falling for the lure of the terrorist group that primarily draws support from thousands of Muslims worldwide via its recruitment campaign in cyberspace.