Gunfire at KLIA: Bodyguard injured, suspect flees amid attempted murder probe

At approximately 1:30 am on Sunday (14 April), two shots were fired in the arrival hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA1) in Sepang.

One of the shots injured a Malaysian individual, who, according to Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, is a personal bodyguard.

The victim sustained severe injuries, following which the assailant fled. The bodyguard was currently in critical condition.

The bodyguard was reportedly assigned to protect Farah Md Isa, also known as Farah Cie, a Ustazah (female religious teacher).

The Selangor police Chief stated that subsequent investigations revealed the suspect’s intention to shoot his wife, who was awaiting the arrival of an Umrah group at the scene.

The motive behind the incident remains unknown, but the police are treating it as an attempted murder under Section 307 of the Penal Code and the Firearms Act, which carries a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years upon conviction.

The police have identified the suspect and initiated a manhunt, believing he fled to the north.

Emphasizing the incident’s personal nature, stemming from a marital dispute, police affirm no ties to terrorism.

Farah Cie in a Facebook post confirmed that her bodyguard sustained serious injuries from the shooting at KLIA.

According to New Straits Times, Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain of Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department confirmed in a press conference that the suspect, Hafizul Harawi, 38, co-owns a travel agency with his wife, who was his target.

“The couple owns a travel agency, and his wife was at the airport to welcome pilgrims returning from Umrah,” Shuhaily stated.

He revealed that the victim had filed two police reports under Section 506, one in 2016 and another last year, leading her to hire personal bodyguards.

Police are gathering statements from approximately 30 witnesses, including members of the public and airport auxiliary police.

Shuhaily expressed regret that the incident occurred at the nation’s entry point and disclosed that the suspect and victim were undergoing divorce proceedings.