Five men have been arrested, while four others are being hunted on suspicion of being involved in the assault against Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Malaysia Ibrahim Ansar at the KL International Airport yesterday.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the five arrested, aged between 27 and 56, were picked up around Selangor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur this morning.

"Those apprehended will be investigated under the Security Offences Act (Special Measures) 2012 (Sosma)," he told reporters after opening the Inspector-General of Police Gallery at Bukit Aman in Kuala Lumpur today.

Asked if all the suspects were connected to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Khalid said police were still investigating.

"However, I want to remind LTTE supporters out there that the group has been banned by the United Nations, so we can take action against them," he said.

- Bernama