Speaking at a press conference at the 3rd Counter-Terrorism Financing Summit hosted by Malaysia here today, he said such cells had no links with other groups, which was the authorities’ new concern.
He added that such groups were more prone to visiting Islamic State-linked websites to learn about the terror organisation’s ideology and even how to make bombs.
“So far, we have detected only one wolf pack in the country which we disrupted and dismantled using intelligence,” he said, adding that the group had planned to carry out the attack on the Better Beer Festival, which was cancelled following terror threats against it.
The beer fest was supposed to be held on Oct 6-7 at the Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi later confirmed that three people had been arrested over the plot on Oct 10.
Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the trio – a Form Six student, a 34-year-old retired soldier and a 25-year-old building contractor, all from Kelantan – had also planned to attack several entertainment centres and non-Muslim houses of worship in the Klang Valley.
Speaking today, Ayob hit out at opposition leaders who had criticised Fuzi at the time for urging that the beer fest be cancelled.
“Now we have proof that there was an attack planned for Oktoberfest, when we found ball-bearing bombs in which the shrapnel’s killing range was 20 metres.
“So we waited for the last minute and found this on them. Unfortunately, the opposition politicised this matter and criticised the IGP, but they are now quiet. They haven’t even apologised to him. That is what angers me,” he said.