- Title: Malaysian police say foiled attack on Arab royalty ahead of Saudi king visit
- Date: 7th March 2017
- Summary: PENANG, MALAYSIA (MARCH 7, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MALAYSIAN INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE KHALID ABU BAKAR ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MALAYSIAN INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, KHALID ABU BAKAR, SAYING: "Well we announced that arrest of the seven people right, so four Yemenis, apart from their role involving in producing
- Embargoed: 21st March 2017 07:59
- Keywords: Malaysia police arrest Saudi King foiled attack
- Location: PENANG, MALAYSIA
- City: PENANG, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA00166YMXC7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Malaysia on Tuesday (March 7) said seven militants arrested late last month ahead of a visit by Saudi Arabia's King Salman were planning an attack on "Arab royalties".
The king visited Malaysia on February 26 as part of a month-long Asia tour.
"Well we announced that arrest of the seven people right, so four Yemenis, apart from their role involving in producing false travel documents they are also involved in distributing drugs, cut, and they are also planning to attack the Arab royalties during the visit in Kuala Lumpur se we got them in the nick of time," Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters.
Two of the seven were planning to launch a large-scale attack using a "vehicle-borne improvised explosive device", police reported.
On Sunday (March 5), Malaysia said it had arrested one Malaysian and six foreigners - one Indonesian, four Yemenis and one East Asian - between February 21 and 26 for suspected links to militant groups including Islamic State.
Malaysia has arrested hundreds over the last few years for suspected links to militant groups.
The Southeast Asian nation has been on high alert since suicide bombers and gunmen linked to Islamic State launched multiple attacks in Jakarta, the capital of neighboring Indonesia, in January 2016.
A grenade attack on a bar on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in June last year wounded eight people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
Salman was in the capital Kuala Lumpur with a 600-strong delegation before leaving for Indonesia. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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