Rising Concern over Trend of Malaysian ISIS Suicide Bombers

The Straits Times

12 January 2016

Two Malaysian Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) suicide bombers were killed in separate attacks in Syria and Iraq recently, heightening concerns that more Malaysians are now willing to blow themselves up for the extremist group.

Police counter-terrorism chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay told The Straits Times that based on intelligence, a report yesterday on the duo in Malaysian English daily New Straits Times was accurate.

The Malaysian newspaper said that 26-year-old Mohd Amirul Ahmad Rahim detonated explosives strapped to his body and in his car during clashes in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, on Dec 29, killing 21 people, while 31-year-old Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Salim was among seven suicide bombers who killed 12 policemen in Tikrit, Iraq, on Jan 3.

… The footage posed major security concerns for Australia and South-east Asia, Professor Rohan Gunaratna, counter-terror expert and head of the Singapore-based International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, told the newspaper.

“The recruits who cannot go to Syria because of travel restrictions will train in the Philippines and attack Australia and coalition interests on their return,” he was quoted as saying.

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