25 Jun 2024 | 09:42 AM UTC
Malaysia: Authorities announced the arrests of eight terror suspects in multiple states nationwide June 24
Authorities announced the arrests of eight terror suspects in multiple states across Malaysia June 24. Terror threat remains moderate.
Malaysian authorities announced the arrest of eight people with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) militant group June 24. Officials said the individuals were detained during a police operation June 22-23 in Johor, Kelantan, Perak, and Selangor states. The suspects, comprising six men and two women aged 25 to 70, allegedly planned to target high-ranking officials, including the prime minister, king, and senior police leadership.
The threat of terrorism from Islamic groups remains moderate in Malaysia. This operation follows an attack on the Ulu Tiram Police Station in Johor Bahru that killed two police officers, along with previous arrests in May 2024. The backgrounds of the arrested suspects, which include an unemployed individual, a homemaker, and an educated professional, highlight the broad appeal of extremist ideologies across socioeconomic groups. Nevertheless, the Malaysian Special Branch (MSB) remains effective in conducting counterterrorism operations, though the threat from self-radicalized lone actors or small cells remains a concern as they are harder to detect.
