Three IS suspects arrested

KUALA LUMPUR: Three suspected Islamic State (IS) militants who were planning attacks on a temple in Batu Caves, entertainment outlets and police stations have been arrested by police.
The arrests were made in a series of raids conducted by the Federal Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang between Saturday and Monday.
The recovery of a K75 grenade, pistol and 24 bullets were among the items seized by the police in the raids.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the three locals, aged between 20 and 27, who were from the same terror cell, had hatched a plan to pull off terror attacks based on instructions from Muhammad Wanndy Mohammad Jedi@ Abu Hamzah, a Malaysian who is currently serving the IS in Syria.
"They were planning to launch the attack at an entertainment centre in the city, a temple in Batu Caves and several police stations including on police personnel, by using grenades or firearms during Merdeka eve," he said in a statement today.
Khalid said the first suspect who is a lorry driver, was detained in Selangor on Saturday.
"The weapons such as grenade, CZ 2075 Rami pistol and 9mm bullets were seized from the lorry driver," he said, adding that investigators learnt that the suspect obtained the weapons through courier service.
Khalid added the second suspect, aged 27, who is a butcher, was nabbed in Pahang on Monday, while the third suspect was nabbed in the city on the same day.
"All the suspects were planning to go to Syria to join the IS militant group once they managed to launch the attack, with assistance from Wanndy," he added.
Khalid said that all the suspects are being detained for suspicion of committing offences under Chapter VI A of the Penal Code, and are being investigated according to procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measure) 2012 (Act 747).