One LTTE suspect planned to attack Sri Lanka high com - police
Police said they are expecting to arrest more supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the country, and warned that there will be no compromise on anyone who poses a security threat.
Special Branch's Counter-Terrorism Division chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said this during a press conference at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters today, where he announced that anti-terror operatives have nabbed a total of seven suspects linked to LTTE during an operation in six states between 9am and 2pm...
Police said they are expecting to arrest more supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the country, and warned that there will be no compromise on anyone who poses a security threat.
Special Branch's Counter-Terrorism Division chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said this during a press conference at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters today, where he announced that anti-terror operatives have nabbed a total of seven suspects linked to LTTE during an operation in six states between 9am and 2pm.
"It doesn't matter who. To the police, individuals who are involved in terrorist activities, we will definitely bring them to book.
"Regardless of their political affiliation, religious belief, racial background, or where they come from. We will arrest," he said.
Ayob said this in response to a question whether those that police expect to pick up soon include more politicians in the country.
According to him, those arrested included two state assemblypersons from Malacca and Negeri Sembilan, nabbed over their suspected role in promoting the organisation.
The politicians, he added, were involved in an LTTE remembrance event in Malacca last year, where they delivered speeches in support of the group.
"They were also found to have distributed reading materials and items related to LTTE during the event".
Ayob said all the suspects, who came under the police radar since Nov last year, were taken into custody in a special operation carried out by the division in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Kedah.
All of them are now being held for 28 days to facilitate investigations under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).
Also arrested was an insurance agent who had planned to carry out a terror attack at the Sri Lanka High Commission building in Kuala Lumpur, added Ayob.
He said the insurance agent was planning the attack with another LTTE supporter who is still at large.
The other four arrested are: a junk items trader in Rawang suspected to be the organiser for LTTE remembrance events in Kuala Lumpur every November since the past several years, a taxi driver in Sungai Siput, Perak, a technician in Kulim, Kedah, and a restaurant owner in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.
Ayob said the taxi driver and technician were the ones whom police had arrested over an attack on Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ibrahim Sahib Ansar, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2016.
The two were convicted in court for the offence and had been fined RM10,000 each.
Apart from the arrests, police have also seized items related to LTTE, such as reading materials, logos and flags.
Ayob also warned of attempts to revive the terror organisation outside Sri Lanka, citing recent arrests of several people in Europe allegedly linked to the attempt.
He added that police are taking pre-emptive measures now so as to curtail the group from becoming a bigger threat in Malaysia.
Ayob also issued a stern warning against other LTTE supporters who attempt to hold or join any remembrance event for the group next month.
"It is clear already (that) this is not just a warning," he said, referring to today's arrests.
