IGP: Terror cell intended to create Islamic State-like regime in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The 17 militants detained in the latest swoop by Bukit Aman were planning to create an Islamic State-like regime in Malaysia.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pic) said that to achieve their goal, the terror cell had planned to kidnap VIPs and raid banks to fund their terror activities.

"We received information that they were also planning to raid several army camps and police stations to boost their weapons cache.

"The locations identified as the cell's terror targets were in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Khalid added that among the 17 detained were two Armed Forces personnel and an Indonesian militant, believed to be a former member of the Jemaah Islamiah terror group.

"We believe they also received funds from a terror group in a neighbouring country.

"Those detained aged between 14 and 49 are being held under Sosma 2012," he said.

The latest arrests bring the number of those detained for suspected IS links to 92 since February 2012.