14 IS suspects detained in police op
One of the 14 IS suspects arrested in a special operation by Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division in six states.
THE STAR
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have nabbed 14 suspected Islamic State (IS) militants – 13 men and one woman – in a special operation that spanned six states.
All 14 suspects were picked up in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Perlis between May 17 and May 20 and are between 22 and 49 years old.
The Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division conducted the operation, a follow-up to the one carried out by police in March that nabbed 15 suspects.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said seven of the suspects worked at a private company, two had their own businesses and the remaining were a mechanic, an aircraft technician, a karaoke lounge hostess, a lab assistant and a labourer.
“Eight of the suspects were responsible for channelling funds to IS in Syria and the Abu Sayyaf Group in southern Philippines. They were detained in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak, Perlis and Johor,” said Noor Rashid.
He added that the eight have connections to a Malaysian IS fighter in Syria, Muhammad Wandy Mohamed Jedi.
Noor Rashid said in a statement on Saturday that one of the eight is a relative of Muhammad Wandy, and that his account was used to send funds to IS.
“He is actively recruiting new militants in Malaysia and has threatened to murder the Prime Minister and Bukit Aman’s top officer,” said Noor Rashid.
He said that two of the 14 were detained for promoting IS propaganda via Facebook while another had hosted IS-related meetings at his home.
“Three more suspects had planned to go to Syria in July and August last year. We discovered that the aircraft engineer, who works for a private company
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