GEORGE TOWN: An attempt to create racial tension and riot at next week’s Thaipusam festival was thwarted when police arrested 33 men at an entertainment outlet on Sunday.
They were picked up at 2.55am and the raiding team also seized metal rods, helmets and wooden sticks.
Police have monitored the movement of the suspects, aged between 17 and 2, for almost a month before the outlet was raided.
State deputy police chief Datuk A.Thaiveegan said some of the suspects have previous criminal records and four were tested positive for drugs.
"We believe the group was plotting to create racial tension by rioting during Thaipusam festival. They are now remanded until Jan 29 to help in investigations," he said, adding that the suspects were from Perak, Johore, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan.
They were being investigated under Section 148 for rioting, Section 506 for criminal intimidation and Section 323 of the Penal code for obstructing a public servant from discharging his duties and for causing hurt.