A teenage boy, believed to be linked to militant activities in Syria was arrested by the police at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on Monday.

Inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar said the 19-year-old suspect from Perak was nabbed by members of the Special Branch's Counter-Terrorism Division upon his return from Syria, via Turkey.

"A former student of a college in Cairo, Egypt, the suspect was recruited into the terrorist group in Syria in the middle of last year, after interacting with one of the terrorists from Syria via Facebook.

"At the end of September last year, the terrorist had arranged for the suspect to be sneaked into Syria via Turkey," he said in a statement today.

He said investigations found that the suspect had joined one of the al-Qaeda affiliated groups in Syria known as 'Jund al-Aqsa'.

"The suspect had undergone military training for a month at several terrorist camps in Hamar and Idlib in Syria," added Khalid.

The IGP said the suspect was also trained in handling the high-powered AK-47 firearm, rocket-propelled grenade, machine-gun, anti-tank weapons and grenades.

"The suspect was also involved in nearly 100 military operations with the group."

Khalid said the suspect was arrested for committing offences under Chapter VIa, namely offences relating to terrorism, under the Penal Code (Act 574) and would be investigated in accordance with procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Act 747).

- Bernama