KUALA LUMPUR - Suspected Malaysian militants loyal to the
extremist Islamic State movement bought bomb-making material ahead of a
proposed attack on a Carlsberg brewery near the capital Kuala Lumpur, a top
anti-terrorism official said. 
The plan, which the official said was at a
"discussion"stage, would be the first time Southeast Asian militants
inspired by Islamic State's rise have sought to launch a major attack at home,
adding to officials' fears of a domestic"blowback" from Islamic
State's expansion in Syria and Iraq.
Ayob Khan Mydin, the police counter-terrorism division's
deputy chief, told Reuters that the group of 19 suspected militants had
attained aluminium powder, which is often used as an ingredient in bombs.
"In terms of ideology and intention it was very clear," Ayob Khan said in an interview. "It would have been carried out."
The group,
seven of whom have been charged under anti-terrorism and weapons laws, had
discussed bombing the Danish beer-maker's factory in Petaling Jaya on the
outskirts of the capital as well as other targets such as pubs, Ayob Khan said.
"In terms of ideology and intention it was very clear," Ayob Khan said in an interview. "It would have been carried out."
The group,
seven of whom have been charged under anti-terrorism and weapons laws, had
discussed bombing the Danish beer-maker's factory in Petaling Jaya on the
outskirts of the capital as well as other targets such as pubs, Ayob Khan said.
Alcohol is forbidden under Islamic rules, but is widely
available in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
Source: AsiaOne
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