Police arrests 17 for suspected militant attacks in Kuala Lumpur

The Royal Malaysian Police through its Counter-Terrorism Unit on Sunday arrested 17 people suspected of possible militant attacks in Kuala Lumpur.

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar on Twitter said two of those arrested had recently returned from Syria.

Khalid also congratulated the police on the arrests made.

Syabas Bhg Counter Terrorism @PDRMsia semlm t'kap 17 org sedang merancang lakukan keganasan di KL. 2 dr mrk baru balek dr Syria. Go PDRM Go
— Khalid Abu Bakar (@KBAB51) April 5, 2015

Khalid when contacted by Astro AWANI today confirmed the arrests made and said that a media statement would be provided.

A report had earlier stated that the Bukit Aman Special Branch and Counter Terrorism unit have identified several Malaysians who are involved with the Islamic State (IS) and are only waiting for the right time to make their attack.

The IS militants from Malaysia are said to have planned to make a direct threat to attack Malaysia such as bombing entertainment centres as a punishment for Malaysia’s resistance against them.

"In Malaysia, it is still in the first phase (of recruiting members) ... but it must not be assumed that there will be no attacks,”said Bukit Aman special branch counter terrorism division principal assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay after delivering a talk on 'IS: The Security Perspective' on March 30.

He added that the plans for attack have been traced since April, 2014.

To date, almost 630 Malaysians are in Syria fighting together with the IS militants.