Hamas mourns for Palestinian scientist "assassinated" in Setapak
Saturday, 21 Apr 20187:02 PM MYT
by victoria brown and farik zolkepli
PETALING JAYA: Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, has announced that a Palestinian scientist who was killed in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday was a member of the organisation.
Dr Fadi Al-Batsh, 35, was walking to a nearby mosque some 300m from his home at Idaman Puteri Condominium in Medan Idaman, Setapak at about 6am on Saturday (April 21) when two gunmen on a motorbike shot him dead.
Hamas is calling the killing an "assassination", but did not put the blame on any specific party in their statement on Saturday.
"The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas mourns the death of the Palestinian scientist Fadi Al-Batsh, who was assassinated on his way to perform the dawn prayer in a mosque in Kuala Lumpur," said Hamas.
"He was known for his scientific innovation as he has attended many international conferences on energy in Japan, UK and Finland," said Hamas.
"He was planning to chair another conference on energy in Turkey," they said.
Hamas said that Al-Batsh had contributed to the development of Malaysia's energy sector.
"He invented and developed several technical sets and minerals used in generating electricity," said Hamas.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said police believed it was not a random shooting.
He said that two men wearing full-face helmets and riding a high-powered BMW motorcycle, waited for 20 minutes in the darkness of dawn near Jalan Meranti in Setapak, before firing more than 10 shots at a Palestinian lecturer, killing him on the spot.
"Initial investigations revealed that only one of them shot the victim, but it is still too early to conclude (matters)," he said when met at the scene of the crime.
He added that police have collected two bullet slugs from the crime scene so far.
"We will collect CCTV footage from other premises in the area as well.
"We have contacted the family members and the private college, where he worked at. If new relevant leads emerge, we will definitely pursue them," he said adding that, the body was sent to Selayang Hospital for post-mortem.
It is learnt that the victim has been in Malaysia with his wife and three children for about 10 years and he is well known among the community.
Asked whether the shooting was related to the Islamic State (IS) terror group or a grudge, Comm Mazlan said it was still to early to tell.
"We are exploring all angles and the Kuala Lumpur CID chief will be leading the team investigating this murder," he said.
Al-Batsh's father told Al Jazeera that he accuses Israel's intelligence agency Mossad of being behind his son's killing and called on the Malaysian authorities to look into who carried out the "assassination" as soon as possible.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/21/hamas-mourns-for-dead-palestinian/#6uBv72t45Kbusvl1.99
BAGAN DATUK: The two killers of a Palestinian university lecturer in Kuala Lumpur are believed to be linked to a foreign intelligence organisation, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, said the police would work with Interpol and Aseanapol to track down the duo immediately.
He said police will cover all angles and will investigate the case until the arrest of the perpetrators.
“We will provide information on the developments in the case from time to time,” he told reporters after opening a new building of GiatMara in Hutan Melintang here.
Ahmad Zahid was asked to comment on the shooting of the 35-year-old lecturer at about 6 am on Saturday (April 21), as he was walking from his condominium to a nearby surau in Jalan Meranti, Setapak, for the dawn prayers.
The Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Datuk Dr Anwar H. Al Agha, speaking to reporters at the scene, said the dead man was Dr Fadi Al-Batsh.
Ahmad Zahid said a preliminary investigation showed that the lecturer was to have left for Turkey on Saturday afternoon to attend an international conference.
He said the lecturer, who was an electrical engineer and an expert at making rockets, had had links with an intelligence organisation of a country and had been active in Islamic NGOs that championed the Palestinian cause.
“The lecturer, a permanent resident of that country, is believed to have become a liability for a country hostile to Palestine,” he said.
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, has announced that the slain man was a member of the organisation. – Bernama
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/21/ahmad-zahid-killers-of-lecturer-linked-to-foreign-intelligence-organisation/#23UTjPK7x67eQHFH.99
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