IGP: Cops monitoring IS elements within Armed Forces

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are working closely with the Armed Forces to identify elements of the Islamic State (IS) within its ranks, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

Referring to the two Armed Forces personnel detained with 15 other suspected militants on Sunday, Khalid said police were monitoring members of the group that returned from Syria and those still in that country.

“We are auditing government departments and agencies for civil servants who could be involved in militant activities,” he said, adding that police are expecting the group to plan terror attacks and their acti­vities are constantly being monitored.

“So far we have been getting very good support from the public in informing and giving us information on suspected members of IS. We hope this will continue,” Khalid added.

On Sunday, Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division officers rounded up 17 militants in raids in Kedah and the Klang Valley.

Those detained were between the ages of 14 and 49. They are being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).

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

On a separate matter, Khalid said police had officially completed their duties at the Semenyih helicopter crash site and were awaiting the final analysis of the flight data recorder.

The flight data recorder, or black box, was sent to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch in Farnborough, Britain, for analysis.

Khalid was at the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields yesterday to present RM4,000 worth of donations to the temple and Ti-Ratana Welfare Society in conjunction with the 208th Police Day celebrations.