Sofian Khan: Malaysian law enforcers have detained 15 suspected militants including Bangladeshi accused of plotting separate “lone wolf” attacks on places of worship around Kuala Lumpur. Among them was a Bangladeshi restaurant owner accused of alleged arms smuggling to foreign militants.
According to Inspector General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun, Police gathered around the 15 in several security operations between March 27 and May 9.
The detainees include a 17-year-old, a suspected Islamic State member, who had allegedly planned “lone wolf” attacks on churches, entertainment centers and Hindu temples around Kuala Lumpur.
“The suspect had surveyed and filmed the target locations, as well as recorded a video warning of the impending attacks,” Fuzi said, adding that the video was uploaded to four Islamic State-linked mobile chat rooms shortly before the suspect was arrested. Another detained suspect was a 51-year-old housewife who was arrested on May 9, the day Malaysia held a general election, police said.
The woman was suspected of planning to drive a car into non-Muslim voters at a polling center on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
“The suspect had also planned to crash into non-Muslim houses of worship using a car fitted with a gas tank to be used as an explosive,” Mohamad Fuzi said.
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