Batu Caves temple attack dashed

KUALA LUMPUR: A planned attack on the Hindu temple in Batu Caves on the eve of Merdeka was thwarted when police arrested three suspected Islamic State (IS) militants from the same terror cell.
The arrests were made in a series of raids conducted by the Federal Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang between Saturday and Monday.
Police seized a K75 grenade, pistol and 24 bullets in the raids.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pix) said the three locals, aged between 20 and 27, who were from the same terror cell, had hatched a plan to pull off terror attacks based on instructions from Muhammad Wanndy Mohammad Jedi@ Abu Hamzah, a Malaysian who is currently serving the IS in Syria.
"They were planning to attack an entertainment centre in the city, the temple in Batu Caves and several police stations and police personnel, by using grenades or firearms during Merdeka eve," he said in a statement today.
Khalid said the first suspect, a 20-year-old lorry driver, was detained in Selangor on Saturday.
"Weapons such as grenades, CZ 2075 Rami pistol and 9mm bullets were seized from the lorry driver," he said, adding that investigators learnt that the suspect obtained the weapons through courier service.
Khalid added the second suspect, aged 27, who is a butcher, was nabbed in Pahang on Monday, while the third suspect, also 20, was nabbed in the city on the same day.
"All the suspects were planning to go to Syria to join the IS militant group once they managed to launch the attacks here, with assistance from Wanndy," he added.
Khalid said all the suspects are being detained for suspicion of committing offences under Chapter VI A of the Penal Code, and are being investigated according to procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measure) 2012 (Act 747).
Muhammad Wanndy, who also goes by an assumed name Abu Hamzah al-Fateh, 26, is believed to have masterminded the June 28 grenade attack on the Movida pub in Puchong, Selangor, that injured eight patrons.
Earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia had revoked the passports of 68 Malaysians who have been identified as leaving the country to join the Islamic State.
On Aug 21, Deputy IGP Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim had said that police are working with universities and colleges to stem the spread of the IS ideology and influence among youths and students.
Batu Caves is the site of one of the world's biggest and most colourful annual Thaipusam celebrations, a Hindu festival dedicated to the deity Lord Murugan.
For the first time this year, army personnel joined forces with the police to patrol the temple at Batu Caves and its surrounding areas during Thaipusam.
A total of 230 people, including 200 Malaysians, were arrested between 2013 and early August this year, for involvement in militant activities linked to Islamic State.