Sabah security forces raid Telipok refugee settlement

Security personnel checking the houses at the settlement in Saturday's dawn operation

KOTA KINABALU: A massive pre-dawn operation was carried out in the notorious Filipino refugee settlement in Telipok, Saturday.

It could not be ascertained yet if the security forces were targeting extremist elements linked to the Abu Sayyaf group or Islamic State (IS).

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun declined to give details when contacted but said an operation was being conducted.

Witnesses said armed personnel carriers (APC) entered the settlement as early as 3am.

Many claimed to have seen security personnel enter every house in the area to check the villagers.

A source said the Task Force 450, a unit set up in eastern Sabah following the Lahad Datu intrusion in 2013, was among those involved in the operation.