Three nabbed fresh and eager to fight for Isis, report says

The three jihadists arrested earlier this week were lured by a senior Malaysian militant into joining the Islamic State to achieve ‘martyrdom’. – Reuters pic, September 27, 2014.

Lured by a senior Malaysian militant through Facebook just three months ago, the three jihadists who were arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Thursday were “fresh” but eager to join the Islamic State (Isis) terror network, The Star reported today.

Made up of an architect and a technician, both 26, and a shopkeeper, 42, the three who were part of a wider network reportedly joined the terror group to achieve “martyrdom” in their “false” jihad.

The report also said police had identified the recruiter, and that the three suspects had met in Klang together with their “handler” several times to plan their trip to Syria.

"The suspects are considered still 'fresh' but willing to join Isis in their false jihad.

"Police are investigating if the suspects had any plans against Malaysian targets, but so far, there is no such indication," the report said, quoting a source.

The suspects were believed to be in contact with other Malaysian fighters in Syria.

The meetings in Klang were said to have been held at the architect's house and the suspects used different routes and means of transport to attend them.

After Thursday’s arrest, the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division brought the men to their homes in Klang, Kota Baru and Arau and seized an Isis flag and several computers from there.

Family members appeared not to know of the suspects' activities when interviewed by police.

“There was a family however who consented to it as they believed he would be fighting in a holy war,” the source said, according to the report.

Police are said to be investigating if the three suspects – who are  detained under the Special Offences (Security Measures) Act 2012 – had any weapons training in the country or with Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines.

The three were picked up by Bukit Aman before boarding a flight to Turkey, where they would have made their way to Syria to join Isis.

Malaysian links to foreign groups were “quite real”, with five wanted Malaysian militants having received training by Abu Sayyaf and believed to have fled to southern Philippines, a known Abu Sayyaf stronghold, the report added, quoting sources.

- TMI