9 linked to Africa-based al-Qaeda terror group nabbed

Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun says the foreign nationals have been deported and blacklisted for life from entry into the country.

PETALING JAYA: Police have arrested nine people, including two Malaysians, with links to an African-based terror group in raids around the Klang Valley and Sarawak.

In a statement, Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun said two of the suspects — a Tunisian national and an Egyptian — were believed to be Ansar Al-Shariah Al-Tunisia fighters.

Ansar Al-Shariah Al-Tunisia is a part of the al-Qaeda terror network operating in North Africa.

The duo, in their early 20s, came to Malaysia with the help of the two Malaysians and five other Egyptians who helped provide lodgings and pay for other expenses, including flight tickets.

Fuzi said the two Malaysians, a man and a woman, who were picked up in Sarawak, and the five Egyptians acted as facilitators for the terrorists.

He said the operation was conducted between Feb 2 and 9.

“Investigation by the Special Branch counter terrorism unit revealed that the foreign terrorists were trying to make Malaysia a ‘safe haven’ as well as a transit point and a logistics hub.

“The presence of foreign terrorist fighters can turn Malaysia into a base to carry out either activities in the country or on other nations,” he said.

Fuzi said foreign terror suspects would either use fake travel documents, operate a business or marry locals to enter and stay in the country undetected.

The seven foreign suspects were deported on March 5 and blacklisted for life from entering Malaysia.- FMT