The home minister also said the suspect, a local man aged 21, did not have any links to any extremist groups such as Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) as previously stated by the police, Bernama reported.

Saifuddin said preliminary investigations found that the suspect acted alone as a “lone wolf”.

“It was found that he does not mix with other people,” Saifuddin was quoted as saying at a press conference at the state police headquarters in Johor Bahru today.

He added that 46 individuals were interviewed by police as part of their investigation.

Saifuddin also gave his assurance that JI’s movement in the country is still under control, as his ministry’s database has the details of those previously detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

“The police’s approach is to continue interacting with them to ensure their rehabilitation continues and they will not be a threat to the community,” he said.

Also present at the press conference was Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain.

The IGP reportedly said yesterday that the suspect was believed to have been a member of JI, and that police detained five family members of the suspect and two students said to be linked to the incident.

Malay-language daily Harian Metro also reported that a Singaporean national is one of the seven people detained and remanded for seven days until May 24.

Magistrate Hidayatul Syuhada Samsudin issued the remand order at the Seri Alam police headquarters in Pasir Gudang, where several lawyers from the National Legal Aid Foundation were present to represent the six locals remanded.

“However, we are not representing the Singaporean national,” one of the lawyers said.