Four members of a Jemaah Islamiah suicide bombing squad who were arrested last week planned to attack the US embassy and cut water supplies in neighbouring Singapore, officials said today.

An official said on condition of anonymity that the police had arrested three Malaysians and one Singaporean last week. Security forces are still searching for four other members of the team.

"These people are the ground force who are trained to carry out suicide operations against Western interest and other key facilities," the source told

"Bashir and Hambali are their leaders. That is why the duo are on our wanted list."

Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir ( photo )has been accused of being the spiritual leader of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) regional terror group while Riduan Isamudin, alias Hambali, has been named as the network's military chief.

Police in Indonesia have said that key JI operative Imam Samudra ( photo ) has admitted masterminding last month's Bali bomb which killed more than 190 people although some reports have said that senior members of the al-Qaeda network are also being sought in connection with the blast.

More arrests soon

Police chief Norian Mai revealed yesterday that the four had been arrested and said another four militants were still being sought but he gave no details of their alleged targets.

But the government source said today that the US embassy in Singapore and the pipeline which pumps water from Johor to Singapore were among their targets.

"The police are carrying out mopping up exercises to nab the remnants. More arrests could be coming," he added.

The Star newspaper reported today that the three Malaysian detainees had undergone guerilla warfare training either in Afghanistan, the Philippines or Indonesia.

The arrests and the hunt for the remaining four suspects was likely to top the agenda at the weekly cabinet meeting today.

One security official said Norian himself would brief and update the cabinet.

Malaysia has detained a total of more than 70 alleged Islamic militants since the middle of last year, holding them under the Internal Security Act which allows indefinite detention without trial.

Higher level of security

Meanwhile, international schools in the capital Kuala Lumpur are operating as usual but have beefed up security in the light of the added tension.

"The security of our students is always a priority, and we are highly vigilant at all times," Hilda Al Poosilva, marketing director of the International School Kuala Lumpur told AFP .

"Parents understand we are doing all we can. Policemen conduct regular patrols," she said.

"We have stepped up security due to parents voicing their concerns over level of security, in wake of Bali bombing," Vanita of the Alice Smith International School said.

"Every vehicle that comes in is checked, the security guards check under the vehicles," she added. AFP