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Malaysia arrests 7 people after attack on Johor police post by Jemaah Islamiyah suspect kills 2 cops
The attacker - who was shot dead at the scene - was a member of terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, local police say. Seven people, including the assailant’s family, have been arrested as local police track down over 20 suspected JI members in Johor.
Two policemen were killed and another injured in an attack by a masked assailant at Ulu Tiram police station, Johor on May 17, 2024. (Photo: CNA/Zamzahuri Abas)
17 May 2024 12:35PM (Updated: 17 May 2024 04:39PM)
Editor's note: This article originally said that the Malaysian police have arrested over 20 suspected Jemaah Islamiyah members. This is inaccurate. What the police said was that they have arrested seven people and are tracking down over 20 JI members in Johor. We are sorry for the error.
ULU TIRAM, Johor: Malaysia police have arrested seven people as they track down more than 20 people believed to be members of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) after an attack on a police station in the outskirts of Johor Bahru in the early hours of Friday (May 17).
The attack at Ulu Tiram police station by a JI member at around 2.30am killed two police officers and left one injured. The attacker was killed in an ensuing firefight.
The suburb town of Ulu Tiram is located about 20km from Johor Bahru. It's close to Mount Austin, a popular shopping destination for Singaporeans.
Speaking at a press conference outside the police post, Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said that the suspect, a 21-year-old male, had entered the police post armed with a parang. He attacked one police officer near the station’s entrance, taking his pistol.
A firefight then ensued at the car park area of the station between the suspect and police officers, which resulted in the death of another officer, Mr Razarudin added. The suspect was also shot dead during this exchange.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain speaks to the media during a press conference outside the Ulu Tiram police station. (Photo: CNA/Zamzahuri Abas)
He said that police officers then searched the suspect’s home and found evidence that he was a JI member.
“We have also found that the suspect did his preparations, the bag he was using was padded with zinc (sheets) and other material so that he could use it as a shield during a firefight with police,” said Mr Razarudin.
“So from what we see, the individual came to the police post to get a gun for his agenda, which we don't know yet what it is. I have instructed the Special Branch to identify all JI members in Johor to be called up for questioning,” he added.
When probed by reporters on what was the motive of the attack, Mr Razarudin said: "They are JI members ... we suspect that (it is to obtain weapons), but we must investigate further."
Two policemen were killed and one was injured in an attack by an intruder at the Ulu Tiram police station on May 17,2024. (Photo: CNA/Zamzahuri Abas)
Mr Razarudin outlined that more than 20 people believed to be linked to JI are being tracked down for questioning. He added that all five members of the suspect’s family aged between 19 and 62 have been arrested, noting that the suspect's father, aged 62, is a known member of JI.
Mr Razarudin added that two people who were making a police report at the time have also been nabbed as he said that “it was not logical” for them to be reporting an incident which allegedly took place two years ago, implying that they might be involved in the attack as distractions for police.
Mr Razarudin added that security has been stepped up at police stations, the state’s palace as well as the official residence of the Johor chief minister.
The bodies of the two police officers and the suspect have been taken to Hospital Sultan Ismail for autopsy and further investigations. The injured officer has also been taken to the same hospital for treatment, reported Bernama.
Jemaah Islamiyah is linked to Al Qaeda, the terror group that carried out the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001. JI is responsible for some of Indonesia’s deadliest terror attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings which killed more than 200 people.
JI's spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir set up a religious school or madrasah in Ulu Tiram called Luqmanul Hakiem in the early 1990s, according to various reports.
The school was attended by Noordin Muhammad Top, the suspected mastermind of the Jakarta hotel bombings in 2009, as well as another JI militant Mukhlas who was part of the 2002 Bali bombings.
