JOHOR BAHRU – The man who stormed into the Ulu Tiram police station, killing two and injuring a third officer before being shot dead, is said to be reclusive.
Neighbours said his family also lived in isolation from the other residents.
A Bernama check of the family’s house in Jalan Rabani in Kg Sg Tiram, which is located about 7km from the police station, found that the house of the assailant who was believed to be a member of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group was in a fenced-off private area.
It is estimated that there are about 10 other houses in the settlement that also display no-entry signs, besides being located not far from Madrasah Luqmanul Hakim which was a haunt for the leaders of the JI extremist group “once upon a time”.
One of the residents interviewed, Fauzi Faizal, 39, said the suspect, who is understood to have four siblings, did not go to school and was educated by his father who is also a JI member, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain at his press conference today.
“It is believed that the siblings (of the suspect) also did not receive formal education and are schooled by their own father, possibly (indoctrinated) with extremist teachings,” said Fauzi who is a native of the village.
Fauzi, who is also a member of the Johor Bahru City Council Tiram zone, said the settlement where the suspect’s residence is located is believed to have existed more than 20 years and was inhabited by several other families who also lived in seclusion.
This reclusive segment of people in the settlement also did not mingle with other villagers, he said.
“Residents are indeed worried, shocked as the ‘killer’ resided here in our midst, but we are confident in the police to maintain order and ensure that the incident (attack) was the last of it,” he said.
Ulu Tiram village chief Shazrul Idham Abd Aziz, 41, also expressed his faith in the force.
“This harrowing incident worries the residents, but I am confident police will take action and investigate to maintain peace and harmony of the village,” he said.
In the 2.45am ambush, three people were kille – two constables and the 21-year-old attacker who was gunned down. Meanwhile, another policeman suffered injuries.
A raid was carried out on the assailant’s home which led to the arrest of five members of his family, aged between 19 to 62 – while two students from higher learning institutions were also detained. – May 17, 2024