Malaysia arrests 17 over suspected terror plot

Malaysia’s police chief says over a dozen suspected militants have been arrested for allegedly planning to carry out terrorist acts in the country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said in a tweet posted on Monday that 17 people had been taken into custody the night before by Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division personnel.

The police officer added that among those detained were two individuals who had recently returned to Malaysia from Syria.

Khalid did not release any further details about the arrest or the alleged plans of the suspects.

Malaysian authorities have detained scores of people believed to be the supporters of the Takfiri ISIL terrorist group.

Last month, the Malaysian Home Ministry presented a proposal including two new anti-terror laws, which would reintroduce the indefinite detention of suspects without trial and allow the seizure of the passport of anyone believed to be a supporter of terror acts. The proposed laws are aimed at curbing militant acts in the country.

Malaysian authorities are worried that the ISIL terrorist group is gaining an increasing number of recruits and supporters in the country.

The government has identified 67 of its nationals who have joined ISIL in Syria and Iraq, and five who have been killed while participating in the group’s terrorist activities.

Malaysian security sources say another 120 people, including men and women, with suspected links to the ISIL are being kept in custody.

The Takfiri group, which controls some parts of Iraq and Syria, has launched a huge publicity campaign to recruit people from all across the world. The group has been committing heinous crimes including the beheading of civilians and non-civilians in the areas under their control.

Press TV

M.Wassouf