Malaysia detains 3 terror suspects after US and Australia warn of attack at hotspot

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Malaysia detains 3 terror suspects after US and Australia warn of attack at tourist hotspot

PUBLISHED : Friday, 25 September, 2015, 6:28pm
UPDATED : Friday, 25 September, 2015, 6:28pm

Associated Press in Kuala Lumpur

The US had had warned of attack at the famous eatery street, Jalan Alor, in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AP

Malaysian police said on Friday they had detained three men, including two foreigners, for questioning over their possible involvement in terrorism after the US and Australian embassies warned of a potential attack at a popular hawker street in Kuala Lumpur.

A Malaysian, an Indonesian and a Syrian, aged between 30 and 51 years, were picked up on Thursday as part of an ongoing counterterrorism operation, said national deputy police chief Noor Rashid Ibrahim.

He said one of them often visited Yemen and entered Malaysia a few days ago. No details were given about the others.
Read more: Malaysia arrests 10 alleged terrorists with links to Islamic State

“Investigation is ongoing to determine if the three of them are involved in any plans to launch attacks in Malaysia,” he said.

Police beefed up security in popular public places and other strategic locations, he added.

Foreign tourists walk along Jalan Alor in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was said to be a potential target for terrorists. Photo: EPA

The US Embassy issued an advisory Thursday saying it had credible threat information of a possible terror attack and urged its citizens to avoid Alor Street, located in a shopping belt in the city centre, and its immediate surrounding areas.

It said that terrorist organisations had in the past planned attacks to coincide with significant dates, but gave no details.

The Australian Embassy issued a similar alert to its citizens based on the US warning.

Malaysia has arrested more than 100 supporters of the Islamic State group in the past two years, some of whom were allegedly plotting attacks in the country. They included civil servants and members of security forces.

Police said they were held for offences such as raising funds for the militants, recruiting Malaysians and getting weapons for attacks targeting Kuala Lumpur and other strategic locations. No attacks have occurred in Malaysia.