A man stormed a police station in southern Johor state, Malaysia, early Friday, killing two police officers and injuring another before being shot dead. Authorities are investigating the incident as a Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror attack, according to national police chief Razarudin Husain.
Materials linked to Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian terror network connected to al-Qaida, were discovered in the attacker’s home. Additionally, five members of his family, believed to be JI affiliates, have been arrested for investigation, Razarudin confirmed.
The police chief stated that the attack appeared premeditated, with a possible motive being an attempt to seize firearms from the station. The attacker, who arrived on a motorcycle masked and armed with a machete, killed a police constable and then used the officer’s weapon to kill another officer. He also injured a third officer before being fatally shot.
Two students were also detained after arriving at the police station just before the attack, purportedly to lodge a complaint. Their timing is considered suspicious and they are being investigated for potentially attempting to create a diversion at the Malaysia police station.
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Razarudin noted that the attacker had no prior criminal record but revealed that police have identified an additional 20 suspected Jemaah Islamiyah members in Johor who will be tracked down for investigation. Security measures will be increased at police stations nationwide.
Jemaah Islamiyah, designated a terror group by the United States, is notorious for orchestrating numerous attacks across Southeast Asia, including the devastating 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia, which killed 202 people, primarily foreign tourists.
What is Jemaah Islamiyah
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) is a Southeast Asian militant extremist group with ties to Al-Qaeda. Founded in the early 1990s, it aims to establish an Islamic state across the region, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Jemaah Islamiyah gained international notoriety for orchestrating the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed over 200 people. The group has been involved in various terrorist activities, including bombings, assassinations, and armed attacks.
Despite significant setbacks due to counterterrorism efforts and arrests of key leaders, Jemaah Islamiyah remains a threat, continually seeking to recruit members and plan new operations.
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