According to malaysiakini, there’s a leaked internal police memo that indicates the presence of suicide bombers in Kuala Lumpur. Incidentally, our city is playing host the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit this weekend.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the authenticity of the circular and expressed regret over the leak of the sensitive information.
However, he stressed that the intelligence was not verified.
The Guardian quoted him as saying:
There have been reports of imminent terrorist threats in Malaysia. At this point, I would like to underline that they have yet to be confirmed.
The memo, dated 16th November, originated from the Sabah police headquarters. It reportedly said that Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had 10 suicide bombers in Kuala Lumpur and 8 in Sabah.
According to malaysiakini, the memo also said, “These suicide bombers underwent military training in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, as well as prepared (sic) to receive orders from their leaders to launch attacks or bombings.”
It instructed police to increase patrols and intelligence surveillance.
The Malaysian authorities have been on high alert following news of the Paris terror attacks and more recently, when Abu Sayyaf militants reportedly beheaded Malaysian engineer Bernard Then Ted Fen. Bernard was kidnapped along with restaurant owner Thien Nyuk Fun at a seafood restaurant in Sandakan, in Sabah, in May this year.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has openly condemned the act, urging the authorities to take action against the murderers.
Meanwhile, world leaders, including POTUS Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, are arriving in Kuala Lumpur the ASEAN summit, and at least 2,000 army personnel are being deployed around the capital, Malaysian military forces said.
POTUS Barack Obama landed via the Air Force One at the Subang Royal Malaysian Air Force Base at 3:20pm today (20th November, Friday).
He will be spending a total of 3 days in Malaysia.
Sources: Straits Times, The Guardian, malaysiakini.
