KUALA LUMPUR: Five people, including four foreigners, have been detained in connection with terror activities linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) in the country.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar in a press statement today said the five, aged between 25 and 59, were picked up in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kelantan and Johor between Nov 17 and Dec 1.
The first suspect is European, a 44-year-old part-time teacher.
"He was believed to have been involved in terrorist activities in Afghanistan and Syria. He also used to be a former Al-Qaeda member.
"The second suspect, a 29-year-old African, was nabbed in Cheras, Selangor. He was studying at a private university in Petaling Jaya," he said.
Khalid said the other three suspects were part of a cell group and were IS members. They were detained in Kelantan, Selangor and Johor.
"The leader of this cell, a 31-year-old mechanic from Indonesia, was nabbed in Johor. He was acting as a facilitator in recruiting IS members in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
"Another man from this group was detained in Kota Baru, Kelantan. He was also a RELA member and also served as a recruiter," he said.
Khalid said the last suspect aged 25, is Bangladeshi and was planning to become involved in IS-related activities.
The case is being investigated under the Security Offences Act ( Special Measures) 2012 (Act 747) and the Immigration Act 1959/63.