Cops foil terrorist plot to attack non-Muslim houses of worship

Four men linked to an Islamic State 'wolf pack' cell were arrested during the first week of Ramadan in connection with a plot to attack non-Muslim places of worship and entertainment centres around Kuala Lumpur.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the four were also plotting to assassinate several "high-profile" individuals accused of failing to uphold Islam and insulting the religion.

The men, aged between 20 and 49, comprise a Malaysian who is alleged to be the leader of the group, two Rohingya, and one Indonesian.

Hamid (photo) told a press conference in Bukit Aman today that the group had plotted the attacks to seek "revenge" over the death of firefighter Mohamad Adib Mohd Kassim in the wake of the Seafield Sri Mahariamman Temple riots last November.

"The arrests also led to the seizure of a CZ 9mm pistol, 15 bullets and six improvised explosive devices, each approximately 18cm in length, smuggled in from a neighbouring country and intended for use in the planned attacks," he said.

According to Hamid, Bukit Aman's Counter-terrorism Unit had detected the cell earlier this month, and arrested the four men between May 5 and May 7 in Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

[More to follow] - Mkini