The memo reportedly said the Abu Sayyaf and Isis militant groups had 10 suicide bombers in Kuala Lumpur and eight in Sabah. AFP
Malaysian police has confirmed that a leaked police memorandum indicating the presence of suicide bombers in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah is authentic, according to a report by Singapore’s The Straits Times.
Malaysian police official Khalid Abu Bakar was quoted in a report by online news portal Malaysiakini as saying the memo was genuine while expressing regret over the leak.
The memo reportedly said militant group Abu Sayyaf and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis) had deployed 10 suicide bombers to Kuala Lumpur and eight in Sabah.
The note had also instructed police to increase patrols and intelligence surveillance.
Citing Malaysiakini reports, The Straits Times said the circular, which was dated Nov. 16, originated from the Sabah police and was based on intelligence information acquired from a “meeting and planning” between three terrorist organizations—the Abu Sayyaf, Isis and the Moro National Liberation Front.
According to the report, the meeting in Sulu, said to have taken place on Sunday, was attended by 14 leaders from the three organizations and 50 Abu Sayyaf members, who were armed with M16 rifles, pistols and bombs.
The leaders reached several resolutions during that meeting, the report quoted the circular, including recruiting new members and deploying Abu Sayyaf and Isis assets to Kuala Lumpur and Sabah.
“These suicide bombers underwent military training in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as prepared (sic) to receive orders from their leaders to launch attacks or bombings,” the circular reportedly said, as reported by Malaysiakini.
On Tuesday, Abu Sayyaf militants reportedly beheaded Malaysian engineer Bernard Then Ted Fen, whom they kidnapped along with restaurant owner Thien Nyuk Fun at a seafood restaurant in Sandakan, Sabah, early this year.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had condemned the act and urged authorities to take action against the culprits.