Gunman attack diving resort on Malaysia's Borneo island
AFP News – 24 minutes agoRELATED CONTENT
- File photo taken in March 2013 shows ambulances driving towards a stand-off between …
- File photo taken in February 2013 shows a Malaysian police commando standing guard …
A policeman was killed and a second kidnapped after heavily armed gunmen opened fire at a diving resort off Malaysia's Borneo island, a security official said Sunday.
The shooting on Mabul island marks a fresh escalation of violence in the remote area of Sabah state, one of the world's top diving hotspots, renowned for its pristine dive sites.
A massive manhunt has been launched to track down the criminals believed to have come "from a neighbouring country," Abdul Rashid Harun, head of Sabah state eastern security zone, told AFP.
One security official said on condition of anonymity that the criminals are believed to be Sulu gunmen from the Philippines.
Describing the deadly incident that happened late Saturday, Abdul Rashid said a police outpost guarding a resort in Mabul island was ambushed by at least six to eight masked gunmen wearing black t-shirts and military trousers.
"The group of heavily armed gunmen shot and killed a 32-year-old policeman and kidnapped another personnel member. They escaped in a boat into neighbouring waters. We have launched a security operation to track down the criminals," he said.
Malaysia this week revamped security measures in the region after a spate of abductions in Sabah state, including the ransoming of Chinese tourists by gunmen based in the southern Philippines.
Abdul Rashid said the attack on the policemen could have been in retaliation for the ongoing security clampdown against criminal activity in the area.
The area is notorious for human trafficking, smuggling of drugs and subsidised diesel oil from Malaysia.
Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was in Sabah on Saturday, announced that a "mother ship" equipped with fast boats would be deployed near Philippines waters to fight cross-border crime.
A security zone was set up last year after Islamic guerillas of Sulu origin from the southern Philippines staged a bloody assault in the area leaving dozens dead, including security forces.
Abu Sayyaf, which is believed to be affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has been blamed for a spate of terror attacks and kidnappings, mostly in the Philippines.
The group was also blamed for the abduction of 21 people -- several of them foreign tourists -- from a Sabah diving resort in 2000
News by The Star Online
(Source : http://bit.ly/1qUqnoI)
(Source : http://bit.ly/1qUqnoI)
Reported by Muguntan Vanar & Stephanie Lee
13th July 2014
SEMPORNA — A massive air and sea hunt for Filipino gunmen possibly still holding a Malaysian marine police constable is continuing as all escape routes off Semporna has been cut off.
According to security officials, patrol boats from various security forces as well the navy’s helicopter have been scouring the Semporna area for the gunmen who killed a 32-year-old marine police corporal in Mabul island.
Marine policeman Kpl Rajah Jamuan was killed while a constable identified as Zakiah Aleip, 26, remains missing after shootout with the gunmen during an ambush at the Mabul Water Bungalows Resort in the island at about 11pm on Saturday.
Initial indication was that the gunmen might have rowed into the area with their boat before climbing up the resorts jetty from the back of the building.
It is learnt that as soon as they entered, the gunmen started to shoot randomly towards the restaurant, reception office and jetty area before fleeing. Two other policemen managed to take cover during the shooting.
One of the policeman, Sgt Jeffridin who was on a boat nearby, heard the commotion and went to investigate. He found two of his colleagues had gone missing.
Rajah’s body was later found under the jetty.
It is suspected that the shootout could be revenge attacks or for ransom demand.
