7 more Abu Sayyaf terrorists who work as security guards in KL arrested

KUALA LUMPUR — Seven suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists, all Filipinos, were nabbed in the Malaysian capital where they were working as security guards.

The arrests on Sept 14 follows an earlier operation where eight of their peers were also held for allegedly planning attacks during the 29th Kuala Lumpur Sea Games and 60th Merdeka celebration.

Inspector General of Police Mohd Mohd Fuzi Harun said the suspects, aged between 22 and 28, were working for private security companies in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

“One of the suspects, aged 22, is an Abu Sayyaf member who was involved in armed clashes with the Philippine armed forces and was also involved in kidnappings in southern Philippines,” he said in a statement.

Mr Fuzi said all seven suspects slipped into Malaysia via Sandakan, Sabah about two years ago before flying here using fake travel documents.

“The police will continue with follow-up operations to detect and detain foreign terrorists who make their way into Malaysia whether to hide, raise funds, launch attacks on the country or make it their operational vase to strike a third country,” Mr Fuzi stressed.

This year a total of 41 foreigners categorised as foreign terrorist fighters have been arrested by the special branch counter-terrorism division, he said.

All those detained will be held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 pending investigations into their involvement in terror activities, Fuzi added.

In the earlier operations carried out from July 4 till Aug 30 in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kelantan and Johor, the division arrested eight locals and 11 foreigners who are suspected to be involved in terrorist activities.

Of the total, the eight suspected Abu Sayyaf members aged between 20 and 52 were held in Cheras on Aug 30. NEW STRAITS TIMES