Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division assistant director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the operation which started at 9.30pm was carried out ahead of the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games to ensure the sporting event ran smoothly.

“We have chosen this area because there are many Arabs such as Syrians, Iraqis and Africans who are likely to have links with foreign terrorist fighters,” he told reporters during the operation.

He added that those with suspicious identities would be taken to the Sepang district police headquarters and checks would be made with Interpol data and the immigration department to ensure they were not listed as terrorists.

He said 200 officers and staff from the Bomb Disposal Unit (UPB), the immigration department and the national registration department were involved in the operation.

The Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) also rendered their support by lending their personal radiation detectors (PRD) to search for nuclear and radioactive materials in the operation, he added.