M’sian cops nab IS suspect planning lone-wolf attack in KL

KUALA LUMPUR — The man arrested on suspicion of links to the Islamic State (IS) at a train station in Kuala Lumpur yesterday (Jan 15) was a 27-year-old former insurance agent who was planning to stage a lone-wolf attack on an entertainment outlet, police sources said.

He had travelled 451km from the east coast state of Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur with instructions to carry out the attack at a popular entertainment outlet in the capital city.

The attack was to have been executed about 10pm yesterday, the sources added.

The man was arrested at the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) station in Jelatik yesterday evening. Police also seized a weapon, which the source said was a knife, and an IS-related document.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar announced the arrest on Twitter, congratulating the police unit handling the operation.

“Well done, E8 unit @PDRMsia for arresting one man with suspected links to IS elements at the Jelatek LRT station, Ampang. Weapons and IS documents seized. #GoPDRMGo” he tweeted in Malay.

The E8 is the counter-terrorism unit under the police Special Branch.

Malaysian police were put on red alert following the bombings in Jakarta two days ago that involved at least seven blasts and left seven people dead.

Following news of the attacks on Jakarta, Mr Khalid announced in a statement here that extra precautionary steps would be implemented at border areas to prevent terrorists from infiltrating Malaysia.

“Following several terrorist-related incidents that took place around the globe over the last few months, the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) have been stepping up preventive measures and implementing a high degree of alert to pre-empt such atrocities from happening in Malaysia.

“Those on our radar as being suspiciously related to terrorist activities will be monitored closely,” he said in the statement Thursday.

The Jakarta blasts followed a suicide bombing in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday that killed 10 people, all of whom were Germans, which officials reportedly blamed on the Islamic State. AGENCIES