Three individuals have been apprehended by Malaysian authorities, who suspect them of providing firearms to a 36-year-old man holding an Israeli passport. This individual was recently detained at a Kuala Lumpur hotel, as reported by the police on Saturday.
A man, who was apprehended possessing a bag filled with six handguns and 200 bullets, had arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on March 12, originating from the United Arab Emirates. Authorities suspect he used a counterfeit French passport. Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain disclosed this information during a press conference on Friday evening.
During police interrogation, the individual presented an Israeli passport, as mentioned by Razarudin. The unnamed person, who arrived in Malaysia and purchased weapons after his arrival, made the payment using cryptocurrency.
The Israeli embassy in Singapore has yet to provide a statement following an emailed inquiry. It should be noted that Malaysia currently maintains no diplomatic ties with Israel.
The police have not dismissed the possibility that the man might be affiliated with Israeli intelligence. The suspect informed the authorities that he had come to Malaysia to pursue another Israeli individual, stemming from a family disagreement.
Razarudin stated, “We are not entirely confident in this account, as we believe there could be a hidden motive involved.” He further mentioned that the individual had resided at multiple hotels during their stay in Malaysia.
On Friday, three individuals from Malaysia, which included a married couple, were taken into custody. They have been detained for a period of seven days due to suspicions of providing weapons and serving as drivers for an Israeli suspect, as reported by Razarudin to Reuters on Saturday.
A firearm was discovered in the vehicle owned by the couple, as mentioned. In response to this situation, heightened security measures have been implemented, ensuring the safety of Malaysia’s king, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and other prominent individuals. Authorities have increased their vigilance and protection efforts to maintain peace and order.
In predominantly Muslim Malaysia, there is strong backing for the Palestinian cause, as they have frequently voiced concerns over Israel’s actions in Gaza. The nation provides shelter to approximately 600 Palestinian refugees, as reported by the United Nations refugee agency.
In 2018, a Palestinian scientist was tragically killed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by two unknown individuals. Hamas speculated that Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency may have been responsible for the act. However, Israel refuted these claims.
