Bangladeshi detained in Malaysia met Dhaka cafe attack suspect
A Bangladeshi, who was among four arrested for terror links in Malaysia, met a suspect involved in an attack in Dhaka two months ago.
Malaysian daily The Straights Time report revealed that the 37-year-old businessman used his restaurant in Bukit Bintang to meet with the terrorist, Andaleeb Ahmed, who was involved in the attack on Holey Cafe in July where 21 hostages were killed.
‘The authorities believe that the suspect was planning attacks in his home country. He even had regular meetings with many of his countrymen,’ reports the newspaper.
The report quoting a source added that the suspect was also responsible for smuggling AK-47 rifles into Bangladesh.
Andaleeb was linked to Monash University here, having been in Malaysia from 2012 to 2015 and later in Istanbul.
Inspector-General of Malaysian Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the businessman was among four men arrested by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division between 2 August and 17 September.
‘The (Bangladeshi) suspect was arrested on 19 August. He was placed in Interpol’s Red Notice and was deported on Sept 2,’ he said in a statement on 23 September.
Beside the Bangladeshi, there are two others foreigners among the arrestees.
A Nepali citizen, who managed an entertainment outlet, was also arrested under suspicion of fabricating travel documents for use by members of international terror groups, reports Channel NewsAsia.
A Moroccan man was also arrested as he was suspected to be member of Islamic State. He had previously been detained by Turkish authorities after attempting to smuggle into Syria, police said.
The fourth suspect is a Malaysian who had been working as the personal chauffer for a businessman.
He is believed to be linked to Muhammad Wanndy Mohamad Jedy - who police say have been actively promoting the activities of Islamic State on his Facebook page.
Twenty hostages—nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi-born American and two Bangladeshis—were killed in the 1 July terror attack at the Gulshan restaurant.
Besides, two senior police officers—Banani Police Station officer-in-charge Salauddin Ahmed Khan and Detective Branch assistant commissioner Robiul Islam—were killed as they tried to rescue the hostages.
All the five gunmen who attacked the café and a chef, suspected to be their associate, were killed during a commando operation next morning to end the hostage crisis.