Malaysia arrests 36 Bangladeshis over IS support
Police inspector-general Mohd Khalid Ismail said the Bangladesh nationals, who had arrived in Malaysia to work in factories, construction sites and petrol stations, were arrested in coordinated operations since April.
'The group attempted to recruit members to fight in Syria or for Daesh,' Khalid said in a televised news conference on Friday.
'They raised funds to be sent to Syria, and also to Bangladesh,' he said, adding that collections were transmitted through e-wallets and international funds transfer services.
Once in control of large swathes of Syria and Iraq, Daesh was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019 largely due to the efforts of Kurdish-led forces supported by an international coalition. It has maintained a presence mainly in the country's vast desert.
Of those detained by Malaysian authorities, five suspects were subsequently charged for participating in terrorist organizations, spreading extremist ideologies and raising funds for terrorist activities.
Another 16 are still being probed for their support of the militant movement, while 15 more have been issued deportation orders.
'We believe they have between 100 to 150 members in their WhatsApp group,' Khalid said, adding investigations were ongoing.
'They collected an annual membership fee of about $118 (500 Malaysian ringgit) while further donations were made at their own discretion,' the police chief said.
Asked if the militant group had links to Daesh cells in other countries, Khalid said the police were still working with 'our counterparts in other countries as well as Interpol... to uncover their terror network.'
Malaysia depends significantly on foreign workers to meet labor demands in the nation's key manufacturing and agriculture sectors, with tens of thousands of Bangladeshi nationals arriving each year to fill these roles.
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Arab News
18 hours ago
- Arab News
Malaysia arrests 36 Bangladeshis over IS support
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police said Friday they have arrested 36 Bangladeshi migrant workers suspected of supporting the Daesh group by promoting its ideology and raising funds through social media. Police inspector-general Mohd Khalid Ismail said the Bangladesh nationals, who had arrived in Malaysia to work in factories, construction sites and petrol stations, were arrested in coordinated operations since April. 'The group attempted to recruit members to fight in Syria or for Daesh,' Khalid said in a televised news conference on Friday. 'They raised funds to be sent to Syria, and also to Bangladesh,' he said, adding that collections were transmitted through e-wallets and international funds transfer services. Once in control of large swathes of Syria and Iraq, Daesh was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019 largely due to the efforts of Kurdish-led forces supported by an international coalition. It has maintained a presence mainly in the country's vast desert. Of those detained by Malaysian authorities, five suspects were subsequently charged for participating in terrorist organizations, spreading extremist ideologies and raising funds for terrorist activities. Another 16 are still being probed for their support of the militant movement, while 15 more have been issued deportation orders. 'We believe they have between 100 to 150 members in their WhatsApp group,' Khalid said, adding investigations were ongoing. 'They collected an annual membership fee of about $118 (500 Malaysian ringgit) while further donations were made at their own discretion,' the police chief said. Asked if the militant group had links to Daesh cells in other countries, Khalid said the police were still working with 'our counterparts in other countries as well as Interpol... to uncover their terror network.' Malaysia depends significantly on foreign workers to meet labor demands in the nation's key manufacturing and agriculture sectors, with tens of thousands of Bangladeshi nationals arriving each year to fill these roles.
Arab News
a day ago
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Pakistan says killed 30 militants trying to infiltrate border with Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: At least 30 'Indian-sponsored' militants were killed while attempting to cross into Pakistan through its border with Afghanistan this week, the Pakistani military said on Friday. Pakistani security forces intercepted the militants in the restive North Waziristan district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing. All 30 militants, belonging to 'Indian proxy Fitna Al-Khawarij,' a reference to the Pakistani Taliban, were killed as a result of 'precise and skillful engagement.' 'A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed Indian-sponsored Khawarij [militants],' the ISPR said in a statement. 'The interim Afghan government also needs to check and prevent the use of Afghan soil by 'foreign proxies' for orchestrating terrorist activities against Pakistan.' Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its western regions bordering Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation. The North Waziristan district has long been a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, who have mounted their attacks against Pakistani security forces and checkposts, and law enforcers since late 2022, when their fragile, months-long truce broke down with Islamabad. On June 28, a suicide attack, claimed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Pakistani Taliban, killed 13 Pakistani soldiers and injured 29 people, including civilians, in the volatile district that borders Afghanistan, local government and police officials said. A day later, the district administration imposed a 30-day restriction on the movement of people and vehicles from dusk till dawn, saying it was in the interest of 'public safety, law and order, movement of security forces and [to] restrict the movement of outlaws.' In a statement issued from his office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Pakistani security forces for foiling the militant infiltration attempt in North Waziristan. 'We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country,' he said. 'The entire nation salutes their security forces.'
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Pakistan says 30 ‘Indian-sponsored' militants killed trying to cross from Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: At least 30 'Indian-sponsored' militants were killed while attempting to cross into Pakistan through its border with Afghanistan this week, the Pakistani military said on Friday. Pakistani security forces intercepted the militants in the restive North Waziristan district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing. All 30 militants, belonging to 'Indian proxy Fitna Al-Khawarij,' a reference to the Pakistani Taliban, were killed as a result of 'precise and skillful engagement.' 'A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed Indian-sponsored Khawarij [militants],' the ISPR said in a statement. 'The interim Afghan government also needs to check and prevent the use of Afghan soil by 'foreign proxies' for orchestrating terrorist activities against Pakistan.' New Delhi has not yet commented on the latest statement by the army but has repeatedly denied in the past that it is involved in militancy in Pakistan. Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its western regions bordering Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation. The North Waziristan district has long been a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, who have mounted their attacks against Pakistani security forces and checkposts, and law enforcers since late 2022, when their fragile, months-long truce broke down with Islamabad. On June 28, a suicide attack, claimed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Pakistani Taliban, killed 13 Pakistani soldiers and injured 29 people, including civilians, in the volatile district that borders Afghanistan, local government and police officials said. A day later, the district administration imposed a 30-day restriction on the movement of people and vehicles from dusk till dawn, saying it was in the interest of 'public safety, law and order, movement of security forces and [to] restrict the movement of outlaws.' In a statement issued from his office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Pakistani security forces for foiling the militant infiltration attempt in North Waziristan. 'We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country,' he said. 'The entire nation salutes their security forces.'
