Malaysian police said today they were investigating four people who were detained in a raid that yielded two pipe bombs in the southern state of Johor which borders Singapore.

Johor's criminal investigation department chief Abdul Rahim Jaafar said however that police did not believe the four, including one woman, were linked to any terrorist group.

"They are normal criminals. They are being detained for investigations. They are not linked to any terror organisations," he told AFP , declining to give further details of the case.

Under surveillance

The Star newspaper said that the four suspects, suspected of involvement in burglaries and vehicle thefts, had been under surveillance for a year and were detained Monday in a raid on a rented house.

Police also seized two guns and 22 bullets, along with key-making equipment and stolen items worth more than RM100,000 (US$27,000) including a Proton car, four television sets and 15 watches.