Johor Bahru : The police confirmed that the management of a shopping center and hotel here received a bomb threat call from a man believed to be a foreigner, today.
South Johor Bahru District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said, his party received a call at 6.10pm informing them of the threat.
"The management informed that they received the call at 5.38pm.
"The caller claimed to be from abroad and claimed to have planted bombs in several areas around the shopping center and the hotel," he said during a press conference around the scene of the incident here today.
"The caller said ' stop supporting Palestine '. This is the first time we have received a report related to threats regarding Palestine like this
At the same time, he said, all visitors and workers at the shopping center and hotel residents were instructed to evacuate the building.
"As of 9pm, the police confirmed that the parking area of the shopping center was safe and did not find anything as alleged.
"At 9.15pm, we allow the owners to take back their vehicles and vacate the parking lot.
"Throughout this incident, an estimated 9,000 visitors and workers were at the location with 4,000 vehicles and 892 hotel occupants using 463 rooms," he said.
According to him, as of 11pm, the Bomb Disposal Unit confirmed that 90 percent of the detection work had been completed.
"We are still waiting for the full report from the Bomb Disposal Unit together with the K9 Unit, after that we will make a decision regarding the operation of the building," he said.
He said that the police are still conducting further investigations to find the location of the call and the identity of the caller.
In the operation, a total of 12 senior officers and 60 junior police officers were assigned to the scene of the incident in addition to being assisted by two police K9 units and 24 officers and firemen along with three engines.
Also assigned, a bomb disposal unit with three officers and 12 members from the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK).
The shopping center has six floors, while the hotel has 28 floors.
Raub also advised the public not to spread any false and uncertain news that could cause public annoyance.
