Malaysia: Police on hunt for four suspected IS militants April 16

Event

On Monday, April 16, Malaysian police announced that they were searching for four suspected Islamic State (IS) militants. The alleged militants have reportedly planned to kidnap and kill police officers and carry out attacks on non-Muslim places of worship. Police claimed that the four men are a danger to Malaysian national security, and have requested that individuals with knowledge of the suspected militants' location(s) contact the police.

Context

According to Mohamad Fuzi Harun, Inspector General of the Royal Malaysian Police, six IS militants had been arrested in Malaysia between February 27 and March 1. In total, hundreds of people with suspected links to militant organizations have been arrested over the past few years in Malaysia.

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 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.