Malaysia: Three charged with terrorist attack attempt in Johor

Event

On Monday, March 26, a court in the state of Johor charged three men with attempting to carry out acts of terrorism in the city of Johor Bahru and with possession of terrorist-related materials. The trio allegedly intended to attack a government building on Jalan Abu Bakar in the city center. They had reportedly been planning the attack at a restaurant in Johor Bahru between Dec 11, 2017, and Jan 31, 2018. 

Context

Malaysian has been on its highest security alert since January 2016 due to the terrorist threat. According to Western intelligence agencies, terrorist attacks could potentially happen anywhere in Malaysia, including in places visited by foreign nationals. On June 28, 2016, a grenade attack was perpetrated at a bar in the town of Puchong, injuring eight people; the authorities classified the incident as a terrorist attack, carried out by individuals with links to the Islamic State. 

Advice

Individuals present in Malaysia are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities.