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.