Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said ISIS is a “very real” threat to the country, hours after a video from the regional wing of ISIS warned of attacks in the Muslim-majority nation for arresting its supporters.
Police said the video, featuring operatives from the militant group Katibah Nusantara speaking under the ISIS logo, was significant because it was the first from ISIS in Malay.
“This threat is very real and my government takes it very seriously,” Najib told a conference on extremism. “This is a challenge that faces us all around the world. We are far from immune to this danger in Malaysia.”
Police said on Sunday they had arrested seven members of an ISIS cell who were planning attacks across the country. The suspected militants were carrying bullets, books on jihad, ISIS flags and propaganda videos.