Seven arrested on suspicion of planning terrorist attack

Seven individuals, aged between 26 and 50, have been arrested by Royal Malaysia Police counter terrorism unit on suspicion of plotting a series of terrorism at several locations in the country.

They were arrested following the operations launched by the counter-terrorism unit in Kedah, Johor, Pahang, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur on January 22 following an arrest of a suspect in Ampang on January 15.

Royal Malaysia Police in a statement Sunday said, one of the suspects received orders from Muhammad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi @Abu Hamzah, a Malaysian who had been recruited by Daish in Syria.

Another suspect had reportedly received orders from senior leader Khatibah Nusantara, Bahrom Naim, who is responsible in the Jakarta attack, recently.

In another arrest in Johor, two individuals were detained including a 31-year-old suspect who hails from Sabah and an employee of a hotel in Nusajaya and a 33-year-old factory supervisor.

A suspect in Kedah is reportedly responsible in collecting intelligence and channeling fund to any Malaysians who are keen to join the militant group in Syria.

The 50-year-old suspect who runs a cendol shop has used the money to fund militant operations in Malaysia. He is assisted by a 26-year-old man from Terengganu.

Three more suspects were arrested in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang. They previously worked as laboratory assistant, GPS installer and security guard.

Among the items seized were 30 bullets, jihadist books, Daish flag and propaganda videos.

The suspects were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012.