Ar Rayah terrorists planned to test attacks in Melaka
Ar Rayah terror cell planned test runs before 'grand finale' in Penang
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ar Rayah terror cell that was busted by the police had planned to carry out test runs using smoke bombs in Melaka before launching a bigger attack in Penang.
Sources said the group was eyeing the test run at entertainment outlets in Melaka last month before a "grand finale" at similar joints in Penang during Malaysia's National Day celebration on Aug 31.
"Despite only using smoke bombs, their threat was real.
"They were hoping people would end up hurting themselves and each other in the ensuing chaos," a source told The Star yesterday.
"The authorities are not ruling out the possibility that the group could have resorted to the use of more lethal means if their plans were successful," another source said.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohamad Fuzi Harun confirmed on Friday that five members of Ar Rayah, including the mastermind and a foreign militant, have been arrested.
Sources said the foreigner was believed to be a Thai national, who is also part of another terror cell in southern Thailand.
"Police are investigating his role in Ar Rayah and the extent of his involvement in planning attacks in Malaysia," the source said.
The IGP also said another terror cell - the Asoib group - was busted following the arrests of five militants.
MISINTERPRETED
Mr Mohamad Fuzi said the terror cell had misinterpreted the hadith (edict) and ended up believing that Imam Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer in Islam, would emerge in Mecca this year. They were also planning to head for a Middle Eastern country to launch attacks.
Sources said members of the terror cell were planning to go to Yemen, where they would link up with another group and launch attacks in Saudi Arabia.
"The authorities believe the Asoib has some 100 members nationwide," a source said.
Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division head Ayob Khan said 425 militants, including 44 women, had been detained since February 2013.
"From the total of those arrested, 314 are Malaysians while the remaining are foreigners from multiple countries, including the Philippines (39), Indonesia (35), Iraq (eight), Bangladesh (five) and Yemen (four)," he said. - THE STAR
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