Bangladeshi Among 4 Caught in Malaysia for Militant-Linked Activities: Police

Fahirul N. Ramli
2016.09.22
Kuala Lumpur
150330-MY-khalid-620.jpg Malaysian Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar answers questions at a news conference in Sepang, March 16, 2014.
AFP

Malaysian police Thursday announced the arrests of three foreigners and a local man over alleged links to terrorist-related activities, including a Bangladeshi on Interpol’s Red Notice.

The 37-year-old Bangladeshi who owned a restaurant in Bukit Bintang, a popular tourist spot in Kuala Lumpur, was arrested and deported for suspected involvement in smuggling weapons for terrorist groups, Police Inspector-General Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement.

The police chief did not reveal the names of the Bangladeshi or the other three suspects. The police statement did not say whether the four suspects were linked to one another.

“The suspect is listed on the Interpol’s Red Notice for alleged involvement in firearms trafficking for international terrorist organizations,” Khalid said in a statement issued on Thursday.

He said the suspect, who was arrested Aug. 19, was deported to Bangladesh on Sept. 2.

“In the case of Red Notices, the persons concerned are wanted by national jurisdictions for prosecution or to serve a sentence based on an arrest warrant or court decision. [Interpol’s] role is to assist the national police forces in identifying and locating these persons with a view to their arrest and extradition or similar lawful action,” according to information posted on the website of the Lyon, France-based international police organization.

Khalid said that the second foreigner, a 38-year-old Nepalese, was suspected of supplying forged travel documents to international militants. He was arrested on Aug. 19 and deported from Malaysia on Sept. 2 as well.

The third suspect, a 26-year-old Moroccan who worked in this country as a welder, is an active member of Islamic State (IS), according to the chief of Malaysian police.

Khalid noted that the suspect was detained by Turkish authorities in February while trying to enter Syria.

“Upon his release in Turkey, the suspect infiltrated into this country in early May before being caught on Aug. 2 and subsequently deported back on Wednesday,” he said.

All the suspects were picked up in separate operations by the Malaysian police’s counter-terrorist special branch in the states of Selangor and Pahang between early August and Sept 17, his statement said.

Malaysian suspect linked to IS fighter in Syria

Khalid said the fourth suspect, a 34-year-old Malaysian man, is linked to Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi who allegedly has been fighting with Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria since January 2015.

“The suspect, who is employed as a personal driver to a businessman, was detained in September.

“He is linked to Muhammad Wanddy and has been actively promoting IS through his Facebook account,” Khalid said in the statement.

He added that the suspect was arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).

Wanndy on wanted list

Wanndy, who is also known as Abu Hamzah al-Fateh, is high on the Royal Malaysia Police’s police wanted list for his alleged involvement in plotting the first successful attack claimed by IS on Malaysian soil. On June 28, eight people were injured when a grenade exploded on a patio at a nightclub in Puchong, near Kuala Lumpur.

At least six people have been arrested in connection with the attack. Two have pleaded guilty to charges, including attempted murder, and four others have been charged with abetting the attackers.

Previously, Wanndy, who hails from Durian Tunggal in the state of Malacca, made headlines when he was linked to a death threat issued by IS against top Malaysian leaders, including Prime Minister Najib Razak and police chief Khalid.

Wanndy’s name resurfaced just days before the country’s Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 31, when he was allegedly linked to a botched plot to launch attacks at several sites on the eve of the National Day, following the arrest of three men.

Since 2013, Malaysian authorities have arrested at least 230 suspected IS members and have warned that Malaysians returning from combat stints in Syria or Iraq could launch terrorist attacks at home. At least 72 alleged IS members have been charged in court.

S. Adie Zul contributed to this report.

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