Malaysia detains 4 men accused of planning attacks

05/13/2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police say they have detained four men who were planning to assassinate “high-profile targets” and bomb places of worship and entertainment centres during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

National police chief Pol Gen Abdul Hamid Bador says a Malaysian who was the alleged mastermind, an Indonesian and two ethnic Rohingya Muslims were caught in raids last week. Police also seized a pistol and six explosives.

He said on Monday they were members of a small cell allied with the Islamic State group and wanted to avenge the death of a Muslim firefighter during riots over the relocation of an Indian temple last November. He said police are looking for two other Malaysians and an Indonesian.

Malaysia has detained hundreds of suspected IS supporters in recent years.