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Malaysia arrests leader of Jemaah Islamiyah terror group
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 29: Malaysia has arrested a mid-level leader of the terror organisation Jemaah Islamiyah and police hope he can provide leads to track down higher-ranking fugitives, a government official said today.
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 29: Malaysia has arrested a mid-level leader of the terror organisation Jemaah Islamiyah and police hope he can provide leads to track down higher-ranking fugitives, a government official said today.
The suspect was arrested on Monday and is unconnected to an alleged suicide-bomb unit whose members were rounded up last week, the official said on customary condition of anonymity. "The suspect is among the few important remnants of the JI left in the country," the official said. "Key leaders are either in custody or have fled abroad, we believe to Indonesia." There was a confused account of more arrests. In Indonesia, police spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang told reporters that Malaysia had arrested two Malaysians and two Indonesians with Jemaah. He did not say when the arrests took place. Though Malaysia has detained some Indonesian suspects for months, Malaysian officials said that no Indonesians had been arrested recently and that no Indonesian police were currently here.
Jemaah Islamiyah is accused of a string of plots and attacks in the region over the past few years, including the bombings on Oct. 12 in bali, Indonesia, which killed nearly 200 people, mostly tour ISTs.
The group, an ally of al-Qaida, wants to establish a hard-line Islamic state in Southeast Asia.
The suspect was arrested on Monday and is unconnected to an alleged suicide-bomb unit whose members were rounded up last week, the official said on customary condition of anonymity. "The suspect is among the few important remnants of the JI left in the country," the official said. "Key leaders are either in custody or have fled abroad, we believe to Indonesia." There was a confused account of more arrests. In Indonesia, police spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang told reporters that Malaysia had arrested two Malaysians and two Indonesians with Jemaah. He did not say when the arrests took place. Though Malaysia has detained some Indonesian suspects for months, Malaysian officials said that no Indonesians had been arrested recently and that no Indonesian police were currently here.
Jemaah Islamiyah is accused of a string of plots and attacks in the region over the past few years, including the bombings on Oct. 12 in bali, Indonesia, which killed nearly 200 people, mostly tour ISTs.
The group, an ally of al-Qaida, wants to establish a hard-line Islamic state in Southeast Asia.
Bureau Report