BN ops room in Buntong hit by molotov cocktails

Three youths hurled two petrol bombs (molotov cocktails) at the Barisan Nasional (BN) operations room in Buntong in Ipoh, in what the police suspect could be a move to cause fear to residents and sabotage events leading to the 13th general election on May 5.

In the 5am incident at the operations room in Jalan Desa Rishah, a security guard managed to put out the fire caused by the bomb, which damaged several BN flags.

Nevertheless, the bottle containing petrol caused minimal damage as the three youths sped away from the scene in a red Nissan Sentra, pursued by a special security team set up by the BN.

Perak police chief Mohd Shukri Dahlan said the car was later found abandoned about 5km away, with the trio having given police the slip.

He said the police seized three other petrol bombs and five machetes in the vehicle which was reported stolen in Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, about a month ago.

“We are in the midst of tracking down the three youths, and have not dismissed the possibility that hurling the petrol bomb into the operations centre was politically-motivated.

“Their intention was to cause panic among the residents of Buntong, and sabotage the coming general election,” he told reporters at the state police contingent.

He said the police viewed the matter seriously and advised irresponsible quarters to refrain from committing such acts.

The police are investigating the case under Section 435 of the Penal Code for committing mischief with fire.

On Tuesday, an explosion rocked the Nibong Tebal BN operations centre in Jawi, and initial police investigations revealed it was triggered by an improvised explosive device.

Yesterday, a petrol bomb was hurled at the BN operations room in Parit 9 Baruh, Sungai Leman in Sekinchan, nearly razing the premises as the explosive hit a BN banner.

- Bernama