Bodies of some fallen cops yet to be retrieved

Some of the bodies of the five police personnel who were killed by gunmen in Semporna last night have yet to be recovered.

According to Sabah police chief Hamzah Taib, a standoff with the gunmen, estimated to be less than 10 left, in Kampung Sri Jaya Simunul is still ongoing.

However, he said the police are making efforts to recover the bodies.

"We must remember this village is on water, the walkway is only wood and houses are all near by, if we were to conduct an operation (to retrieve the bodies).

"If it is in the morning it's fine, but at night, it is dangerous," he told a press conference in Lahad Datu.

Ongoing operation

Hamzah declined to reveal the exact number of bodies that have been recovered.

"We have recovered some, but the operation is ongoing," he said.

Asked if the village has suffered any casualties, he replied: "We cannot ascertain (this) yet".

Asked if rumours that the five police men were brutally murdered including being stabbed and slashed, he replied: "The operation is still ongoing, we will only know after the post-mortem".

This morning, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar had said five police officers were killed after they entered the village when responding to claims that there were people bearing arms in the village.

Hamzah said the police is still investigating if the armed men came in recently or have resided there for awhile.