17 May 2024 | 09:03 AM UTC
Malaysia: Two policemen killed in armed attack at Ulu Tiram Police Station in Johor Bahru at around 02:30 May 17
Armed attack at Ulu Tiram Police Station in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, kills two policemen at around 02:30 May 17. Tight security ongoing.
An armed attack occurred at Ulu Tiram Police Station in Johor Bahru at around 02:30 May 17, killing two policemen and injuring another. Reports indicate that a lone attacker lured a police officer out of the station by creating a commotion, assaulted him with a machete, and stole his gun. A patrol team returning to the station subsequently exchanged fire with the attacker before killing the suspect.
While the motive of the attack remains unclear, officials have confirmed that the attacker is a member of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group. Malaysian authorities have launched an investigation and crackdown operation following the incident, arresting more than 20 suspected JI members. Increased security measures, including additional police deployment and road closures, are ongoing around Ulu Tiram Police Station.
If operating in the impact area, plan for localized diruptions and heed the instructions of security personnel. Maintain elevated levels of situational awareness.
The threat of terrorism from Islamic groups remains moderate in Malaysia. Attacks targeting police and law enforcement officials are rare within the country, and gun ownership is strictly regulated, limiting the ability of terrorists to acquire weapons. Since the 2016 IS-inspired grenade attack on a nightclub in Puchong, Selangor State, Malaysian authorities have detained hundreds of people for suspected militant actvities, though arrests have abated in recent years. While authorities continue to maintain close surveillance on activities deem to be linked to terror networks, threats from self-radicalized lone actors or decentralized cells inspired by groups like JI and IS remain a concern in Malaysia.
