PETALING JAYA, Malaysia – Authorities last week arrested three people at Kuala Lumpur International Airport recruited to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), local media reported.
A senior militant recruited the architect, technician and shopkeeper via Facebook, The Star reported.
Police believe the suspects arrested Thursday (September 25th) were in contact with Malaysian fighters in Syria , and had met their recruiter several times in Klang to plan their Middle Eastern trip.
The Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division brought the men to their homes, where officers seized an ISIS flag and several computers. Bukit Aman has been on high alert and security along the borders has been increased since Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) pledged allegiance to ISIS.
According to a report by the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), at least 22 Indonesian and Malaysian militants fighting in Syria have formed a military unit called Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiyyah.
"This group was formed with a goal to recruit and facilitate people who want to go to Syria to defend the Islamic caliphate, and also do counter-attacks against governments that repress caliphate supporters," Barometer Institute analyst Robi Sugara told The Straits Times.
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