Nine Malaysians arrested over bid to wage holy war
Nine Malaysians arrested over bid to wage holy war
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian police said on Thursday they have arrested nine suspected members of a foreign-inspired group which planned a "holy war" to create a purist Islamic society.
Police chief Norian Mai said several of those arrested -- all Malaysians -- had previously fought in Afghanistan and in Indonesia's Ambon island "in the name of jihad."
Norian said the group was suspected of involvement in nine crimes in the past one to two years, including the bombing of a church, an Indian temple and a video center and an attack on a police station.
The other cases involved the murder of a local politician, attempted murder including the shooting of two ethnic Indians and armed robbery.
"The motive behind these activities is militant in nature and has jihad (holy war) elements," Norian said.
He said they were looking for more suspects and investigating possible links to Islamic militants in other countries.
The gang's activities arose from "certain ideologies as a result of influence from groups that organize jihad overseas" and the intention was "to fight for a purist (Islamic) society," Norian told a press conference.
The gang's reign of terror was halted by a middle-aged security guard, who turned his shotgun on its members during a botched bank robbery in a Kuala Lumpur suburb last month.
He killed one man and wounded two others, who later led police to track down other gang members and the recovery of a large cache of arms.
Asked if the group aimed to topple the government, Norian said: "Not directly, not at this stage. I believe this is still at the preliminary stage."
The police chief said weapons, including an M-16 rifle, several pistols, ammunition and materials to make explosives had been recovered but gave no further details.
The Indonesian island of Ambon has been torn by conflict between Muslims and Christians since January 1999. Thousands have died.
It was the second time in less than a year that an extremist Islamic group has been uncovered in Malaysia.
But Norian said the gang was not linked to the Al-Ma'unah Islamic sect nor to opposition party activists held under a controversial security law.
Al-Ma'unah members sparked a major security scare last July when they raided two army outposts and seized more than 100 firearms.
Meanwhile, the police chief warned people against joining a mass rally planned for Saturday outside the deputy premier's home to protest against a controversial security law.
"Don't go, don't join. It is illegal and unlawful," Norian Mai told a press conference on Thursday.
Opponents of Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA), which has been invoked to detain four opposition activists without trial for up to two years, say they will hold a peaceful mass protest at the official residence of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Abdullah, who is also home (interior) minister, signed the detention orders under the feared ISA.
Under tough public assembly laws, police can declare any unauthorized gathering of more than four people illegal. Offenders can face up to a year in jail.
The four activists, who have been transferred to a detention camp, are among 10 supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim who were arrested under the ISA between April 10 and 26.
Three of the four are leading members of the opposition National Justice Party headed by Anwar's wife.
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said it was "deeply concerned" at the detentions.