Kelantan acting police chief SAC Din Ahmad said the duo were identified based on information received from Bukit Aman (federal police headquarters).

Police got the lead yesterday when they arrested two foreigners on a motorcycle in Salor. After interrogation, they revealed that their two friends were in Kota Bharu for a job,” he told reporters here today.

Din said policemen on patrol in Wakaf Che Yeh came across a Proton Wira with the two suspects inside at about 9.40pm.

“Realising they were being trailed, the suspects sped towards Jalan Salor-Pasir Mas but were cornered as police had set up roadblocks.”

One of the suspects then got out and opened fire on a police vehicle, hitting the windscreen and the vehicle’s body.

Policemen returned fire and shot dead a suspect, while the other got out and tried to attack the policemen with a parang. He too was shot dead.

“The suspects, aged between 35 and 45, were Indonesians. One was a permanent resident (PR) with a Johor address.”

Police seized a 0.38 revolver and two parangs at the scene of the crime.

Din said the gang specialised in robbing people who withdraw large amounts of money from ATMs at banks. The robbers were always armed with sharp weapons.

Police believed the gang had robbed their victims of about RM400,000 in Kota Bharu.