Malaysia: Police arrest 15 suspected terrorists March 29 - May 9

Event

On Friday, June 1, Malaysian security officials announced they had arrested 15 suspected terrorists between March 29 and May 9. According to local sources, the suspects were detained during raids in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Kelantan, and Sabah. The alleged militants were reportedly planning to attack non-Muslim places of worship, as well as polling stations and police offices.

Context

In January 2016, Malaysian police placed the country on its highest security alert level following suicide bombing attacks and shootings in Jakarta which were claimed by an Islamic State (IS) regional affiliate. In June 2016, an IS grenade attack at a bar in Puchong (Selangor state), near Kuala Lumpur, wounded eight people.

Advice

Individuals in Malaysia are advised to remain vigilant for militant activity and report any suspicious behavior or activity to the authorities.