Nine, including a teen, nabbed for having homemade bombs
ALOR SETAR: Nine men, including a 14-year-old boy, were arrested in Sungai Petani for having homemade bombs and equipment to make the explosive.
It is learnt that two of the men were arrested at a house with two homemade bombs while seven others, including the 14-year-old boy, were arrested at a workshop with a homemade bomb and equipment to make the device.
It is learnt that the schoolboy was working part-time at the workshop.
Kedah police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said Saturday the arrests and seizures were made between 11.30am and 2.30pm on Friday.
He said a team of police from the state police headquarters and the Kuala Muda Criminal Investigation Divison raided the two locations in Sungai Petani.
He said the raid was made based on two earlier cases recorded here under Ops Cantas Khas.
“Our investigation into the cases led us to the arrest of the nine individuals, he told newsmen in a press conference here.
He said the nine individuals were aged between 14 and 49 and none of them were related.
He said the nine had been remanded for five days until Sept 25 to facilitate investigation under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.
SDC Ahmad said initial investigation showed that the bombs, each weighing about 500grams, could cause death and, if placed under a car, the explosion from the bomb could blow the car as high as a three-storey high building.
“We are investigating if the group was involved in any criminal case in the state and outside Kedah or if it has any link to a bomb explosion that killed a housewife in Taman Angsana Sari, Sungai Petani in June last year,” he said.
It was reported that 49-year-old Tan Chin Fang fell victim to a parcel bomb blast in Taman Angsana in June last year.
He added police were also investigating if the group belonged to any secret society.
