KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 15 Malaysians and a man from a North African nation believed to be involved with terror groups in a special operation between Sept 21 and last Thursday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspects, aged between 20 and 38, were detained in a string of raids in Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and Sabah.
"Fourteen of the suspects are believed to be part of a terror cell called 'Gagak Hitam', led by Muhammad Wanddy Mohamed Jedy (a Malaysian who joined Islamic State (IS) in Syria, and was the mastermind behind the Movida bombing on June 28).
"The suspects are believed to have pledged to Wanndy through online means and sent funds to further his cause," Khalid said in a statement.
He said another suspect, aged 20, is a student at a public university in Johor. He was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on Sept 22.
"The suspect had departed for Istanbul on Sept 7, and was arrested by Turkish authorities the following day for attempting to sneak into Syria in a bid to join a terror group," said Khalid.
He said police also arrested a 32 year-old man from a southern African nation in Selangor on Sept 25.
"The man was arrested for suspicion of being a member of Jahbat Al Nusra in Syria.
"The suspect had visited Malaysia several times since May this year. While in the country, he is believed to have been involved in falsifying travel documents to be used by members of Jahbat Al Nusra," said Khalid.
The suspects arrested comprise five entrepreneurs, a technician, a counsellor at a government school, a banker, an executive manager, an antique collector, as well as several students and unemployed individuals.
Khalid said that all suspects are being detained for suspicion of committing offences under Chapter VI A of the Penal Code, and are being investigated according to procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measure) Act 2012.