2 cops dead after attack on Johor police station, Jemaah Islamiah suspect shot dead

 

Johor police chief M. Kumar (second from left) said the suspect was shot dead at the scene. 

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JOHOR BAHRU – Two police officers were killed and another was injured in Malaysia’s Johor state on May 17 when they were attacked by a man suspected of being a member of the Al Qaeda-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI), officials said.

Johor police chief M. Kumar said the suspect was shot dead at the scene.

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said seven people, including five members of the suspect’s family, were arrested. 

“I have instructed our Special Branch to arrest all JI members in Johor to be investigated,” he added, noting that there are about 20 identified members in Johor.

JI seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate in South-east Asia.

Mr Razarudin said the incident began when two students, a 22-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, came to the Ulu Tiram police station at 2.30am on May 17. 

The duo came to seek advice from the police regarding a sexual assault case that happened two years ago,” he told local media. 

A 21-year-old man on a motorbike then turned up and went to the back of the police station. A policeman, who checked on him, was slashed in the neck.

“The suspect then took the victim’s gun. At the same time, another two mobile patrol vehicle (MPV) policemen, who had just finished their patrol, returned to the police station.

“One of our men was shot in his cheek and the bullet went through his head, while another was shot in the shoulder and waist,” Mr Razarudin said. 

Police investigations revealed that the suspect, who has no criminal record, made preparations to confront the police – based on items found in his bag which he used as a shield. There were zinc sheets and paper inside.

“Investigations at the suspect’s house also found texts pasted on the walls,” Mr Razarudin said, adding that his family members are aged between 19 and 62.

He added that the students were also arrested. “The case happened two years ago and they were trying to seek police advice in the wee hours,” he said.

Mr Razarudin said the suspect’s likely motive was to steal weapons from the police station for an unknown agenda.

The police are also checking if the suspect was of unsound mind.

The two policemen killed in the attack served with the force for less than two years. The injured policeman is in stable condition, according to local media

An assailant came to the Ulu Tiram police station with a weapon at about 2.30am on May 17. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM GOOGLE MAPS

nullJI is accused of orchestrating some of the deadliest militant attacks in Indonesia, including the 2002 bombings of Bali nightclubs that killed more than 200 people. Some JI senior leaders have been known to use Malaysia as an operational base.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has detained hundreds of people for suspected militant activities since a 2016 attack in Kuala Lumpur was linked to the Islamic State. Arrests have largely abated in recent years following a regional crackdown. REUTERS, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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