Cops arrest two Iraqis from IS terror cell

Terror suspects: Counter Terrorism Division officers detaining the two Iraqi men at a shopping mall along Jalan Ampang.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have foiled an attempt by an Islamic State terror cell to attack the Saudi Arabia and Qatar embassies with the arrest of two Iraqi nationals.

Sources said the two men were detained by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division at a shopping mall in Jalan Ampang at about 7pm on Thursday.

“They were planning to attack the embassies on March 31 at the behest of IS. They threatened two officials from the embassies to meet their demands or suffer the consequences of an attack,” a source told The Star yesterday.

Intelligence sources did not disclose what the demands were but said the threat of an attack on the embassies was still being investigated. It is learnt that the Counter Terrorism Division had monitored the two men since March 10.

“They were staying in a few places in Selangor and Johor,” another source said.

It is believed that the first suspect, a 39-year-old man, entered Malaysia in early February while the second suspect, 42, had overstayed in the country.

“Investigations are still underway to track down and identify two other members of the terror cell,” the source said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the arrest of the two suspects.

Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Asst Comm Zainuddin Ahmad said initial Investigations revealed that the suspects had issued the threats to the embassies’ officials.

“They even demanded RM6,000 if the officials wanted more information on the attack,” he said when contacted.

This is the second time the Saudi embassy had received threats from IS. The first time was about two months ago.