Extremism ruled out in seizure of IEDs in Nilai

Bukit Aman CID director M Kumar says the incident appears to be an isolated case, not connected to any criminal network or organised group.

Bukit Aman CID director M Kumar said an investigation is continuing into the explosion at a parking area near Desa Palma, Nilai, and seizure of IEDs. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 No links to extremism have been found in the police investigation into last week’s explosion, believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) at a parking area near Desa Palma, Nilai.

Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director M Kumar said the incident appeared to be an isolated case, not connected to any criminal network or organised group, Bernama reported.

Kumar told reporters today the seized materials contained explosive components, and the investigation is now focused on determining the purpose of the materials and potential targets.

“The suspect’s background is still under investigation. Efforts to record his statement are ongoing but this will depend on his health, as he is receiving treatment in hospital,” he said.

The 62-year-old suspect has been remanded until Jan 3 to assist with the investigation.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad had earlier said the suspect was found in a weakened state and suffering from burn injuries following the explosion near some apartments early on Dec 22.

The suspect had been hiding in a forest and was found after a tip-off. Police seized a motorcycle and several homemade explosive devices from him.

The explosion occurred when the suspect was reportedly moving an explosive device inside a vehicle.

Police later found 31 IEDs in a shophouse nearby. They were destroyed on site by a bomb disposal unit.

The IEDs were said to have a blast radius of 20m. - FMT