Recent attacks, threats of violence unrelated, says home minister

Recent attacks, threats of violence unrelated, says home minister

Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the Ulu Tiram police station incident was a lone wolf attack, while the man who tried to snatch a cop’s gun in Penang was drunk.

balai polis ulu tiram
Police are still holding the family of the Ulu Tiram police station attacker, as they seek to uncover the motive for the crime. (Bernama pic)
PUTRAJAYA:
The recent attacks on the Ulu Tiram and Dato Keramat police stations, plus the failed attempt by two men to trespass on Istana Negara grounds and the death threats received by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok are not related, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

“We can confirm that none of these incidents were coordinated,” he said in a press conference.

Saifuddin said the man who attacked a policeman and snatched his submachine gun at the Dato Keramat police station in Penang had been drunk.

“He was under the influence of alcohol and we have also charged him. Meanwhile, the man who attacked Ulu Tiram police station in Johor Bahru was a lone wolf,” he said.

Saifuddin meanwhile attributed the trespass attempt to two men who “dreamed” of having an audience with the king.

Speaking further on the Ulu Tiram incident, Saifuddin said the attacker’s family is still in custody.

“After further investigation from the police, we found that the family does not mix with anyone within the community.

“The family members believe they are the only true Muslims and the rest are kafir, hence they don’t mix with other people,” he said.

Last Friday, two policemen attached to the Ulu Tiram station in Johor Bahru were killed and another injured after an attack by a 21-year-old man, who was shot dead during the assault.

Police initially believed that the suspect was a member of Jemaah Islamiyah, but Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain later said he had no ties with the Southeast Asian extremist group.

The same day, police arrested two men who had attempted to trespass into Istana Negara, and found a parang in their car.

The following day, Kok received a death threat in the mail along with two bullets. Police are investigating her case under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation by anonymous communication.

Police then arrested a man on Sunday for trying to attack a policeman and snatch his submachine gun at the Dato Keramat police station in Penang.

The 35-year-old local was believed to have been under the influence of alcohol.

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