Malaysia arrests 3 IS militants suspected of planning terror attacks

The Malaysian police announced on Wednesday (Aug 31) they have arrested three suspected Islamic State (ISIS) militants who were planning attacks on entertainment outlets, police stations and the Hindu temple at Batu Caves. 

The trio were allegedly planning to launch these attacks with grenades and firearms on Tuesday evening, the eve of Malaysia's National Day. 

The suspects include a 20-year-old lorry driver, who was arrested in Selangor last Saturday. A hand grenade and a 9mm pistol with 24 bullets were confiscated from him.

The other two suspects are a 27-year-old butcher that was arrested in Pahang and a 20 year-old drink seller who was nabbed in Kuala Lumpur. They were both arrested on Monday. 

The suspects were acting under the instruction of Mohamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedy who is a Malaysian known to be fighting with Islamic State in Syria and is seen as the man responsible for ordering a grenade attack in June on a bar on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, the Islamist group's first successful assault in Malaysia.

Police arrested nine people believed to have Islamic State links in the aftermath of the grenade attack.

Earlier this month, Malaysia revoked the passports of 68 Malaysians who have been identified as leaving the country to join Islamic State. Police intelligence reportedly said in March that 18 Malaysians had been killed while fighting with the group in Syria, and that seven others were killed carrying out suicide attacks for the group.

There have not been any reports of Malaysian Islamic State fighters returning home.

Authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia have been on high alert since Islamic State-linked militants carried out an armed attack in the capital of neighboring Indonesia in January.

In June, Islamic State released a video of its fighters from Southeast Asia calling on its supporters to unify under one umbrella group and launch attacks in the region.

A total of 230 people, including 200 Malaysians, were arrested between 2013 and early August this year for involvement in militant activities linked to Islamic State.