7 arrested in Malaysia over terror links in multiple swoops

Malaysian police escorting one of the seven men who were arrested for suspected links to terror organisations. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Seven men, four of them Yemenis, have been detained in the Klang Valley for suspected links to terror groups.

The seven men were picked up by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division between Feb 21 and Feb 26 following multiple raids.

The suspects are a 41-year-old Malaysian factory technician, a 28-year-old Indonesian farmer, a 37-year-old east Asian man, and four Yemenis.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the Malaysian and Indonesian suspects were detained in Kepong on Feb 21.

He alleged they were taking orders from known Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant Mohamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi.

"They were ordered to prepare a large-scale Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) for attacks in Malaysia before making their way to Syria to join ISIS there.

"The Indonesian man was previously deported from Turkey after attempting to illegally enter Syria," he said in a statement Sunday.

VBIED is the technical term for a car or truck bomb.

The east Asian suspect was detained on Feb 23.

"He had entered Malaysia in 2011 using a student visa believed to be fake, and enrolled in a public institution of higher learning in the Klang Valley.

"He has ties with an east Asian terror group which used Malaysia as a transit point and a hideout," Khalid said.

He added that the suspect has ties with another east Asian terrorist, who is responsible for arranging safe passage for the group's members to join ISIS in Syria.

The four Yemenis were detained in Cyberjaya on Feb 26.

"They are suspected of being part of a rebel faction in Yemen. They were also involved in a syndicate specialising in falsifying travel documents," Khalid said.

International passports and RM270,000 in multiple denominations of foreign currencies were also said seized in these raids.

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