IGP confirms IS behind grenade blast in Puchong

KUALA LUMPUR: The grenade attack at the Movida Kitchen, Bar & Club Lounge in Puchong was carried out by Islamic State (IS) militants, police have confirmed.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the attack carried out by two men last Tuesday at the nightspot was the first strike by the terror group in Malaysia.

He said the duo were arrested on Friday at a factory in Klang where they worked.

“They were receiving instructions directly from known IS militant Muhamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi from Syria. The club was attacked as it was deemed an unIslamic establishment,” he told a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday.

The 2.15am blast at the nightspot left eight people, including a female Chinese national, injured.

The explosion shattered the perimeter glass panel, causing shrapnel to hit patrons.

The two men escaped on their motorcycle after carrying out the attack.

On the hunt: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar showing pictures of two more suspects wanted in connection with the Puchong attack.

Speculation was rife that IS was responsible but police were unable to ascertain it at that time.

Khalid cautioned that the attack in Puchong formed only the first of a series of attacks planned by the terror group in the country.

He said the duo had also targeted the senior leadership of the country, the police top brass and members of the judiciary.

“Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has contacted me and given me very strict instructions,” he said, referring to the Prime Minister’s concern on the IS threat.

Besides the two attackers, the IGP said 13 other IS-linked suspects had been arrested since the day of the attack.

Khalid said they included two police officers in Kedah and Perlis.

“One of them planned to carry out robberies to help fund an IS cell while the other was protecting a senior IS member,” he said, adding that the suspects were aged between 19 and 52 and nabbed in Kedah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Malacca.

Khalid said police were looking for two more suspects – identified as Md Saifuddin Muji, 28, and Jasanizam Rosni, 33.

He said those arrested had been recruited and given instructions through social media.

He pledged to scrutinise the web in even more detail from now on.

He urged nightspots and other outlets to be cautious due to the IS threat.

“Try to make sure that it is not so easy to enter, and please adhere to the operating hours as stipulated,” he added.