PETALING JAYA: Dozens of foreign nationals detained in recent police operations are believed to be supporters of two radical groups involved in deadly bombings in their home country.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said the individuals, all from Bangladesh, were linked to Al-Qaeda and Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B), Berita Harian reported.
“Some are being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma),” he was quoted as saying after a handover ceremony for the director of Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department today.
“The rest have been deported, while a few remain in custody for further investigation.”
He said the suspects entered Malaysia posing as students and foreign workers before their militant activities were uncovered.
Khalid added that a special press conference would be called soon to provide further details on the investigation and the suspects’ status.
“Tomorrow or the day after, I’ll call a press conference to explain the actual situation,” he said.
A total of 36 individuals were picked up in coordinated raids in the Klang Valley and Seremban between May 23 and June 11, based on intelligence gathered by Bukit Aman’s Special Branch.
Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that five of the individuals were involved in terrorism and had been charged in the sessions courts in Shah Alam, Selangor, and Johor.
