2016 Movida Bar grenade attack

Last updated

2016 Movida Bar grenade attack
Part of Militant Islamism in Southeast Asia and Terrorism in Malaysia
LocationPuchong, Selangor, Malaysia
Coordinates 3°02′46″N101°37′15″E / 3.046236°N 101.620796°E / 3.046236; 101.620796
Date28 June 2016
02:15AM MST (UTC+08:00)
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Grenade attack
Weapon Grenade
Deaths0
Injured8
PerpetratorAQMI Flag asymmetric.svg  ISIS [1] [2]
AssailantsImam Wahyudin Karjono
Jonius Ondie
No. of participants
2
Motive Islamic extremism

On 28 June 2016, a bar located in Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia, was attacked by two people who threw a grenade into the bar while 20 customers were watching the UEFA Euro 2016 match between Italy and Spain. The attack injured eight people, including one foreigner from China. The attackers left the scene on a motorcycle but were subsequently arrested. The attack was described as the first ever Islamic terror attack against the country perpetrated by Malaysians militants linked to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. [3] [4]

Contents

Background

Although Malaysia is located far from the major conflicts of the Middle East, the growing Islamic extremism and religious bigotry, along with the religion's politicisation, has led to radicalism. [5] [6] Until 2015, there were around 200 Malaysian Muslims that had joined the Islamic State (IS) in its fight in the Syrian Civil War and Iraqi Civil War to establish a modern Islamic caliphate. Many of these returnees have been brainwashed by their leaders in Syria and Iraq to fight their own countrymen because they don't share the same interpretations of Islamic law. [7] Following the rise of extremism, some radical Malaysian Muslims have threatened the government and country, and many have been arrested and blocked from entering the country as well as travelling to Syria. This is believed to be the main reason that many of the Malaysian ISIS members and supporters who reside in the country have decided to rebel against their own government. [7]

Perpetrators

Shortly after the attack, the deputy police chief of Selangor state, Abdul Rahim Jaafar, ruled out the possibility of it being a terrorist attack, [8] and said the motive was business rivalry, revenge, or a targeted killing since a similar attack happened in 2014 when a man was killed and 13 others injured after a grenade exploded outside a pub in Kuala Lumpur that was linked to gambling kingpin. [8] [9] [10]

According to a Facebook post released shortly after the incident, the director of the bar, Roger Hew, claimed preliminary investigations revealed that the attackers were "an Indian couple" that was targeted by two Indian men due to personal matters. [11] This claim was soon disputed by the would-be victims in Hew statement with a legal action to be issued on the bar owner if he did not apologise for making false statement; pointing out that the grenade had instead hit other two victims who seated several tables away from them at the time of the incident. [12]

More evidence are soon discovered in which according to Sin Chew Daily who posted a screenshot of a Facebook post under the account "Abu Hamzah Al-Fateh" (the Facebook account is known to be associated with a Malaysian man fighting for ISIS in Syria). The owner of the account reportedly wrote that two members of "junud khilafah wilayah milazia" [ sic ] had targeted a nightclub full of "heathens" who had not respected the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with "immoral acts". The user urged other Muslims to stay away from places like this to avoid becoming targets. [11] The claims were also supported by a statement issued from an ISIS platform monitored by the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. [2]

Arrests

On 4 July, Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed that the attack was perpetrated by Malaysian ISIS members. [1] This was met with shock and anger by many Malaysians. [13] Following more investigations, around 15 people (from different states of Perlis, Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Penang and Sabah) have been arrested including two police officers, many related to ISIS. The two people who are suspected of throwing the grenade were also arrested. [3] Malaysia's IGP said the attack was planned by a Malaysian residing in Syria named Muhamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi ( nom de guerre Abu Hamzah) who instructed his men to launch attacks in their home country against senior leaders in the government and the Royal Malaysia Police, as well as judges because they try to block militant activity. [13] Wanndy also has reportedly warned that there will be more attacks to come although this has been denied by most experts as their group is suspected of not having the resources to launch a bigger attack. [14] However, all these claims were denied by Wanndy itself, saying that:

Those are serious allegations to make me a scapegoat. They (police) are cooking up stories as revenge towards me and manipulating facts of the arrests to divert people's attention from Malaysia's current issues, which are getting worse. Those arrested are mere supporters, who expressed support for the Islamic caliphate, and they have never received instructions from me to launch attacks on leaders and judges, as claimed by the IGP. [15]

The two perpetrators who threw the grenade that have been caught identified as:

Both suspects have pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to murder eight people and possession of a grenade and to an additional eight charges. [16] [17] Their sentences included a long-term jail up to 30-years for their murder attempt and another 14 years jail together with caning (rotan) for their possession of explosives and another 30 years jail or life imprisonment for becoming a member of and supporting terrorist activities. [18] Preliminary investigation revealed they obtained the grenade from a neighbouring country. [19]

Another two that are believed to be involved in the planning of attack are identified as:

Both also have since been arrested during anti-terrorism operations that were carried out from 20 July–9 August. [20] [21]

On 29 March 2017, the two main perpetrators were sentenced to 25 years in jail with eight charges for attempted murder, possession of firearms, committing criminal and terrorist acts. [22] Despite appeal made by the two perpetrators to the Court of Appeal of Malaysia, the court upheld the 2017 sentence made by the High Court where each of them were also receiving an additional sentence of 10 years jail for giving support to the IS group. [23]

It was later reported on 29 April 2017 that Wanndy, who are claimed to be the mastermind on the bar attack was killed by a drone attack in Syria. [24] [25]

Victims

No deaths were reported after the incident, but eight people are injured during the blast. Most of the victims were Malaysians while another was a female tourist from China. [26]

Response

Following the attack, the Royal Malaysia Police and Malaysian Army have started beefing up security to prevent attacks in the future. [27] The US State Department has plans to set up a data centre in Malaysia following the attack to curb further ISIS propaganda. [28]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jemaah Islamiyah</span> Southeast Asian salafist organization (1993–2024)

Jemaah Islamiyah was a Southeast Asian Islamist militant group based in Indonesia, which was dedicated to the establishment of an Islamic state in Southeast Asia. On 25 October 2002, immediately following the JI-perpetrated 2002 Bali bombings, JI was added to the UN Security Council Resolution 1267.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 in Malaysia</span> List of events

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2005, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Malaysia Police</span> National police force of Malaysia

The Royal Malaysia Police, is a (primarily) uniformed national and federal police force in Malaysia. The force is a centralised organisation, and its headquarters are located at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur. The police force is led by an Inspector-General of Police (IGP) who, as of 23 June 2023, is Razarudin Husain.

Counter-terrorism in Malaysia is a series of measures implemented in Malaysia to detect and prevent terrorism as well as to minimise damages from such terrorist acts should they occur. These measures involve all levels of security services including military, police, border and infrastructure security, civil defence, medical readiness and psychological preparedness. Malaysia also participates actively in international counter-terrorism efforts. The Internal Security Act 1960 (repealed 2012, replaced with Security Offences Act 2012 was enacted to prevent terrorism in Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abu Waheeb</span> ISIL field commander

Shaker Wahib al-Fahdawi al-Dulaimi, better known as Abu Waheeb, was an Iraqi militant jihadist who was the leader of the Islamic State in Anbar, Iraq. He killed three Syrian truck drivers in Iraq in the summer of 2013, and was himself killed, with three others, in a United States-led coalition airstrike in May 2016, according to the US Department of Defense.

There has been an increase in incidents involving alleged radical Islamism in the Balkans since the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 in Malaysia</span> List of events

Events in 2016 in Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkey–Islamic State conflict</span> Conflict since 2013 between Turkey and the Islamic State (ISIS)

The Turkey–Islamic State conflict were a series of attacks and clashes between the state of Turkey and the Islamic State. Turkey joined the War against the Islamic State in 2016, after the Islamic State attacks in Turkey. The Turkish Armed Forces' Operation Euphrates Shield was aimed against both the Islamic State and the SDF. Part of Turkish-occupied northern Syria, around Jarabulus and al-Bab, was taken after Turkey drove the Islamic State out of it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">January 2016 Istanbul bombing</span> ISIL suicide bombing in Turkey

On 12 January 2016, a suicide attack in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district killed 13 people, all foreigners, and injured 14 others. The attack occurred at 10:20 local time, near the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, an area popular among tourists. The attacker was Nabil Fadli, a Syrian member of the Islamic State.

On 14 January 2016, multiple explosions and gunfire were reported near the Sarinah shopping mall in central Jakarta, Indonesia, at the intersection of Jalan Kyai Haji Wahid Hasyim and Jalan MH Thamrin. One blast went off in a Burger King restaurant outside the mall. The attack occurred near a United Nations (UN) information centre, as well as luxury hotels and foreign embassies. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) confirmed that a Dutch UN official was seriously injured in the attacks. It was reported an armed stand-off took place on the fourth level of the Menara Cakrawala on Jalan MH Thamrin. At least eight people—four attackers and four civilians —were killed, and 23 others were injured due to the attack. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility.

Katibah Nusantara or KN, also known as Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiyyah, Malay archipelago unit for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and Majmu'ah al Arkhabiliy, is a Southeast Asian military unit within the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, composed of Malay-speaking individuals, mostly from Indonesia and Malaysia, but also from the Philippines and Singapore. They received notoriety for being the perpetrators of the 2016 Jakarta attacks. It is made up of about 30 small groups.

Amaq News Agency is a news outlet linked to the Islamic State (IS). Amaq is often the "first point of publication for claims of responsibility" for terrorist attacks in Western countries by the Islamic State. In March 2019, Amaq News Agency was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States Department of State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic terrorism in Europe</span> Islamic terrorist attacks and plots in Europe

Islamic terrorism in Europe has been carried out by the Islamic State (ISIL) or Al-Qaeda as well as Islamist lone wolves since the late 20th century. Europol, which releases the annual EU Terrorism Situation and Trend report (TE-SAT), used the term "Islamist terrorism" in the years 2006–2010, "religiously inspired terrorism" 2011–2014, and has used "jihadist terrorism" since 2015. Europol defines jihadism as "a violent ideology exploiting traditional Islamic concepts".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Davao City bombing</span> Terrorist attack in the Philippines

A bombing at the Roxas Night Market occurred in Davao City, Philippines, on September 2, 2016, causing at least 14 deaths and 70 injuries. On September 13, 2016, one of those injured, a pregnant woman, died, bringing the death toll up to 15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zainuri Kamaruddin</span>

Zainuri Kamaruddin, also known by his nom de guerreAbu Talhah, was a prominent Malaysian Islamist militant who fought as commander for Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia and later the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's Katibah Nusantara. In May 2016, Zainuri was declared "public enemy No 1" by Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Ahmad Zahid Hamidi due to his skills in the construction of improvised explosive devices. He was killed by an airstrike on Raqqa during Operation Wrath of Euphrates.

The Hanover stabbing that occurred on 26 February 2016 was a terrorist stabbing of a police officer in Hanover, Germany, by a 15-year-old girl born to a Moroccan mother and a German father. She had been raised under the influence of salafist preachings, as early as 7 years. She had been investigated by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution for preparing a serious crime already in 2014 and had traveled to meet ISIS members in Istanbul in November 2015. It was the first reported attack by an ISIS sympathiser in Germany.

This article covers attacks and activity of terrorism in Belgium.

The 2024 Ulu Tiram police station attack was an attack that occurred on 17 May 2024 on the Ulu Tiram police station in Johor, Malaysia. Two police officers were killed while one was left injured. The sole attacker identified as Radin Luqman Radin Imran was fatally shot thereafter. Malaysian authorities initially identified the deceased suspect as a member of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) due to his father's connection with the terrorist group, although it was later reported that he had no involvement with JI and had acted alone.

References

  1. 1 2 "Nightclub blast in Puchong linked to IS: Malaysian police chief". Bernama. Channel NewsAsia. 4 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 Cassrels, Deborah (30 June 2016). "Islamic State claims Kuala Lumpur nightclub grenade attack". The Australian. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 Kumar, M. (4 July 2016). "Cops confirm Movida bombing first ever IS attack in Malaysia". The Star. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ↑ Quackenbush, Casey (4 July 2016). "The Grenade Attack on a Malaysian Nightclub 'Had ISIS Links'". Time. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Asri cautions against blind support in the name of Islam". Free Malaysia Today. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. ↑ Navalón, Antonio (24 August 2016). "Malaysia the Normandy of Islamic State?". New Straits Times. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 Gradot, Julien (21 October 2015). "Why Malaysia has a problem with Islamic State". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 Latiff, Rozanna; Cameron-Moore, Simon (28 June 2016). "Grenade attack on Malaysian pub wounds eight, police rule out terrorism". Reuters. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Mohd, Hariz; Sharmira Shahrudin, Hani (28 June 2016). "Puchong grenade attack: Business rivalry or revenge?". New Straits Times. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Jayamanogaran, Thasha (10 October 2014). "Grenade attack linked to gambling kingpin, source says". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  11. 1 2 Naidu, Sumisha (28 June 2016). "Eight injured in blast at nightspot in Puchong, Malaysia". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Victim: Why use a grenade, just shoot me if I was the target". Malaysiakini. 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  13. 1 2 Naidu, Sumisha (5 July 2016). "Malaysians angered by Puchong nightclub blast linked to IS". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  14. ↑ Mohd, Hariz (5 July 2016). "IS warns of more attacks in Malaysia". New Straits Times. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "IS militant in Syria denies ordering Movida attack". Free Malaysia Today. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Letupan Bom Puchong: Dua Lelaki Didakwa Lakukan Perbuatan Pengganas". mStar (in Malay). 25 July 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  17. ↑ Muthiah, Wani; Nazlina, Maizatul; Cameons, Austin; Kanyakumari, D.; Tang, Ashley (26 July 2016). "Movida bombers unfazed by charges". The Star. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  18. ↑ "Long jail term plus rotan if guilty". Daily Express. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  19. ↑ "Movida club bombing was Daish's work - IGP". Astro Awani. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  20. ↑ Lim, Ida (4 July 2016). "IGP confirms IS linked to Movida nightclub blast". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  21. ↑ "Malaysia Arrests 9 People over Links to IS". Latin American Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  22. ↑ "Malaysia nightclub bombers sentenced to 25 years' jail". The Star/Asia News Network. The Straits Times. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  23. ↑ "Movida bombers' 25 years jail upheld by appeals court". Bernama. The Borneo Post. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  24. ↑ Heinrich, Mark (8 May 2017). "Malaysia's top Islamic State operative killed in Syria: police". Reuters. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  25. ↑ "One year after first terror attack in Malaysia, a victim remains in anguish". The Straits Times. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  26. ↑ "Malaysia: Puchong Nightclub Explosion Caused By ISIS Members?". The Coverage. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  27. ↑ Zolkepli, Farik (19 July 2016). "Malaysian police beefing up security in wake of IS threats". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 24 July 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  28. ↑ "US to set up centre in KL to combat IS propaganda". Free Malaysia Today. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.