Police thwarted planned terror attack during Saudi king’s visit

(MMO) – Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar revealed today that police managed to prevent Islamic State (IS) operatives in the country from carrying out a planned attack during the recent official visit by King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia “in the nick of time”.

The Inspector-General of Police said four of the all-male agents were from Yemen, one was Indonesian and two were locals.

“They were planning to attack the Arab royalties during their visit in Kuala Lumpur. Thank God we got them in the nick of time. They didn’t manage to get close,” he told reporters here today.

The Arab delegation was in Malaysia for four days from February 26.

Khalid said the suspects are believed to be involved in distributing narcotics in addition to be part of a passport forgery syndicate.

The seven terror suspects were arrested between February 21 and 26 during operations by the Special Branch’s Counter-Terrorism division.

Khalid said one of the two Malaysians and an Indonesian were linked to the IS global terror network and had planned to carry out a bomb attack here.

He said the four Yemeni men, nabbed on February 26 in Serdang and Cyberjaya, are believed to be members of a rebel group in their home country.

The seven suspects were arrested for suspected commission of terrorism offences under the Penal Code and will be probed under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act’s procedures, while one of them is also arrested under the Immigration Act.