Officers from the Counter Terrorism Division in Malaysia's Special Branch are arresting a terror suspect in Sabah. (Source: straitstimes.com)Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Eight people were arrested by Malaysian police for their alleged involvement in terrorism between October 30 and November 12, according to a recent announcement of the local police.
According to Inspector-General of Malaysian Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, the suspects, seven from the Philippines and one Malaysian, were arrested in a series of raids conducted by the Federal Police Special Branch’s Counter Terrorism Division in Putrajaya and Sabah.
All the seven Filipinos, aged between 27 and 60, are members of terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) based in southern Philippines, including a 35-year-old decapitator. Meanwhile, the 38-year-old Malaysian was believed to have funded the Islamic State (IS).
Fuzi said in the first raid in Putrajaya on October 30, the Malaysian, who was an agent selling gold bars, was arrested.
Three Filipinos were captured two days later in Tenom, Sabah state. The suspects, aged between 27 and 51, are labourers involved in kidnapping for ransom (KFR) activities in Sabah and southern Philippines.
Meanwhile, the third arrest was made on November 8 on two Filipinos, aged 35 and 46, who worked as a labourer and technician, respectively.
Both are also ASG members involved in KFR. The duo was planning to flee to southern Philippines to avoid being caught by Malaysian authorities, Fuzi said.
A 30-year-old blacksmith was arrested on November 10 in Kinarut, Sabah. He is a commander in ASG and also the right-hand man of the group’s notorious leader Furuji Indama.
The last arrest involving a 60-year-old night market trader was made on November 11-12.
Malaysia has arrested nearly 400 people since 2013 for suspected links to terrorism.-VNA
VNA
