Israeli national with 6 pistols nabbed, police vigilant of Agong, PM's safety

• UPDATED 9.25AM | This story has been updated with an arrest of a local couple on suspicion of supplying firearms to the suspect.

Police detained an Israeli national using a French passport and seized six pistols, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said.

"The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Bukit Aman confiscated six firearms found inside a bag in a hotel room," he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He added that the suspect entered the country on March 12 through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

The police have obtained a remand order against the suspect, starting from March 27 until March 31, with the case being investigated under Section 12 of the Passport Act and Section 7 of the Firearms Act.

Razaruddin stated that during police interrogation, the suspect revealed he had come to Malaysia to “assassinate a fellow Israeli”.

However, the police are sceptical of the suspect’s statement.

"He has stayed in two or three hotels previously. What we are concerned here is about the issue between Palestine and Israel.

“In any case, we are vigilant, especially regarding the security of the prime minister and Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and other high-profile individuals that we need to consider.

"He might have another agenda for coming here until his arrest," said Razarudin.

Suspect not acting alone

When asked if the individual detained was an Israeli spy, Razarudin said their investigation is considering that angle.

“We are investigating that. However, we believe he did not act alone. He has contracts here that we need to identify," he said.

Further, Razaruddin stated that the individual purchased weapons using cryptocurrency.

"All payments for the weapons purchased were made through crypto. How could these pistols have entered Malaysia? We don’t know. Who received the payments? It's all being investigated.

"He only purchased (the weapons) upon arriving in Malaysia. His flight was from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Malaysia," he added.

Among the weapons seized were Sig Sauer, Glock-27, Smith & Wesson and 200 bullets.

Meanwhile, police have detained a local couple on suspicion of supplying firearms to the suspect.

According to a Berita Harian report, the couple, aged 42 and 40 respectively, were arrested by a team from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department at a Ramadan bazaar in Kuala Selangor at 7.15pm yesterday.

Quoting sources, the Malay daily reported that the police brought the suspects to their residence, also in Kuala Selangor, and found a gun in a backpack inside their car.

Berita Harian reported that the male suspect was believed to be responsible for supplying six pistols to the 36-year-old Israeli man.

It is believed that the couple will be remanded today for further investigations.

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