Ulu Tiram attack: Cop-killer linked to JI but acted alone, says Saifuddin

JOHOR BARU: The man who stormed into the Ulu Tiram police station, killing two and injuring a third policeman before being shot dead, was acting alone, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

"Based on interrogation made on over 40 individuals and checks on the suspect's house, the man was acting as a lone wolf.

"Police investigation started right after the incident, without delays, including checking profiles or police databases on similar incidents.

"As such, we have called a total of 46 individuals for interrogations to assist in the investigation.

"Based on early investigation, we found that the perpetrator acted alone. It is a lone wolf attack, but he was driven by certain motivation that only he understood as he did not mix around with people," he said in a press conference at the Johor police headquarters here.

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Without dismissing the 21-year-old attacker's links to Jemaah Islamiah (JI), Saifuddin added that the individuals called to assist in investigations were those in the police database.

"The police has over 270 years of experience and our database is enough to manage such a situation.

"Those who were previously involved in any similar incidents, have backgrounds with any activities or were previously arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), are in the police's database," he said.

He said this in response to a question on whether the JI has been operating under the police radar in Ulu Tiram.

When asked if there was a need to widen their investigation to involve other countries in the region, he said there was no such need at this juncture.

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He added that JI's operation in Malaysia was still under control at the moment.

"We urge all parties to put a stop to any speculation.

"Public safety is the police's main focus, and I would like to assure the public that everything is under control," he said.

Following the press conference, the Home Minister visited Hospital Sultan Ismail to visit the injured policeman.

He then returned to the Johor police headquarters here for prayers (solat jenazah) for the two policemen who were killed in the attack.