Two Johor police officers killed by suspected Jemaah Islamiyah member

JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA:  Early Friday morning (17 May), an assailant attacked the Ulu Tiram police station along Jalan Kota Tinggi, resulting in the deaths of two policemen and injuring another.

The assailant, who was also killed during the 2:54 am attack, shot at and hacked the policemen.

In a Friday morning press conference, Malaysian Police Chief Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the 34-year-old suspect is believed to have links to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

He added that five members of the suspect’s family have been arrested and JI material was found at the suspect’s home.

Items recovered from the slain attacker indicated that the attack had been planned.

“From our investigations, we found that the suspect had brought along a bag containing an armour plate and other paraphernalia in preparation to clash with the police,” he said.

“Investigators believe that the suspect’s attack was to forcefully obtain the policemen’s firearms for a yet-to-be-determined agenda.”

“We have ordered the police Special Branch to identify and arrest known JI members in Johor,” said Razarudin.

The suspect attacked police officers at the scene

The incident occurred at 2:30 am when two college students, a 22-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, arrived to report a molestation incident from two years prior.

The suspect, masked and clad in dark attire, arrived at the police station at that time on a motorcycle, armed with a machete.

The suspect proceeded to attack the on-duty policeman, slashing him repeatedly in the neck before seizing his weapon.

“Another officer rushed to his colleague’s aid, but the suspect fatally shot him,” stated Razarudin, noting that the deceased officers, aged 21 and 22, hailed from Kuantan, Pahang, and Bidor, Perak.

The two slain officers were identified as Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar and Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said.

Ahmad Azza sustained head and neck injuries, likely inflicted by a parang, while Muhamad Syafiq suffered gunshot wounds.

Razarudin further revealed that another officer was wounded during a shootout with the suspect, whom he subsequently shot and killed.

Investigators recovered a Walther 9mm automatic pistol and a Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun belonging to the police from the scene, indicating a physical altercation with the suspect.

The third injured officer, Corporal Mohd Hasif Roslan, remained in stable condition at the hospital.

Special Branch identified 20 additional JI operatives in Johor

“In the aftermath,” stated Razarudin, “police detained seven individuals, including five members of the suspect’s family aged 19 to 62.

“This encompasses the young couple who initially visited the station to file a report,” he continued, highlighting inconsistencies in their statements, thus rendering them suspects.

Razarudin said initial investigations revealed that the suspect’s father is a member of a JI faction in Ulu Tiram.

Initial inquiries uncovered the suspect’s father’s affiliation with a JI faction in Ulu Tiram, with Razarudin disclosing the police Special Branch’s identification of 20 additional JI operatives in Johor.

JI’s persistent threat in Malaysia

Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) is a militant Islamist group established in 1993 by Indonesians Abu Bakar Bashir and Abdullah Sungkar.

With historical ties to al-Qaeda, JI has orchestrated numerous high-profile terrorist attacks, notably the 2002 Bali bombings, claiming 202 lives.

Abu Bakar, imprisoned in Indonesia since his 2010 arrest, was released in January 2021 after serving 11 years of his 15-year sentence.

In Malaysia, JI’s presence has been notable, serving as a sanctuary and operational hub for its leaders in the 1980s and 1990s.

Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun stated that if Abu Bakar Bashir were released, Bukit Aman’s Counter Terrorism Division would closely monitor him due to ongoing threats from JI activities in Malaysia.

Abdullah Sungkar, the other founder, passed away in October 1999. In the early 2000s, Malaysian authorities apprehended several senior JI members, disrupting their networks.

Despite these efforts, JI remains a threat, sustaining its ideological sway and recruitment capabilities through Islamic schools and personal connections.

The previous incident of a Malaysian police officer being brutally attacked