KOTA KINABALU (The Star/Asia News Network) - The group involved in Thursday night's robbery and shootout with Malaysian security forces off Semporna are believed to have entered Sabah via international waters.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said on Saturday (Dec 10) the criminals came from outside Malaysian borders.

"We are still trying to get more information," he told a press conference.

He said two men and a possible hostage were missing following the gunfights which saw three kidnappers killed.

A policemen was injured and a victim was rescued while two from the group have been arrested following the incident between 9pm and 10pm.

"We are still interrogating the suspects," he said, adding that police were working closely with the Philippines on the case.

On possible threats of retaliation by the group, he said he has not received such information.

"Our security forces comprising various agencies including the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) are always on the alert and are prepared to face any possibilities," he said.

In the incident, a brazen kidnapping and robbing spree by seven foreign gunmen ended in a face-off with the police elite outfit Tiger Platoon off Pulau Gaya in Semporna.

The gunmen, who had earlier kidnapped two fishermen in three robberies, were suspected to have headed towards a fishing boat to rob and probably kidnap another victim when they realised that they were up against the General Operations Forces elite squad.

Three of them were killed, two captured and another two missing at sea after their twin-engine 80HP speedboat capsized.

Police rescued a skipper of a trawler who was unhurt but the second trawler crew member was still missing.

A lance corporal from the platoon suffered a bullet injury to his calf.