KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian police have released photo-fits of two men believed to have gunned down Palestinian lecturer Fadi al-Batsh in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, and identified their possible escape routes.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said on Monday (April 23) that the killers probably fled via Jalan Genting Klang, Jalan Gombak, Jalan Ibu Kota, Jalan Langkawi and areas in Danau Kota, as well as Wisma Ong Tai Kim, on Saturday.
"Both suspects were seen escaping the scene on two high-powered motorcycles," he said, urging those with information of the men's whereabouts to contact the police.
"Photo-fits of the men show one of them has a fair complexion. He is believed to be either of Middle Eastern or European descent, has a fairly long beard and is about 180cm in height. Both of them are well-built."
Earlier on Monday, the Royal Malaysia Police released photo-fits of the suspects behind the shooting to the authorities at all the country's exit points.
"We have experts who compiled the photo-fits based on eyewitnesses but we cannot reveal much about those who spoke to us," Malaysia's top cop Mohamad Fuzi Harun told reporters.
The Inspector-General of Police said the suspects were believed to be riding BMW GS and Kawasaki Versys motorcycles.
"We also retrieved 14 bullets slugs from the body of the victim following a post-mortem. We have sent these slugs to our weapons experts here for further analysis," said Tan Sri Fuzi.
He declined to divulge further details on the case as it was still under investigation, but revealed there had been no threat made against the victim's family.
He added that police may take a statement from the victim's brother, Dr Rami al-Batsh, who arrived in Malaysia earlier on Monday, if necessary.
Mr Fuzi also urged anyone who noticed anything between 5am and 7am on Saturday to come forward.
According to The Star, the family has submitted documents to the hospital where Dr Batsh's body has been kept to request the release of his remains.
It is believed that the family is still awaiting word from the Palestinian embassy over whether permission to fly the body via Egypt has been granted.
A family friend revealed that the earliest the remains could begin the journey home was on Tuesday.
Based on CCTV footage, police have ruled out that Dr Fadi al-Batsh was a victim of a random shooting as other people had walked past the two assailants without being attacked.
The severity of the attack showed that his assailants wanted him dead, police said.
In the brutal 6am slaying, two men in full-faced helmets riding high-powered motorcycles waited 20 minutes in the dark near Jalan Meranti in Setapak, before assassinating Dr Batsh.
He was walking to a mosque, some 300m from his home, to lead the dawn prayers when he was gunned down.
