2024 Ulu Tiram Police Station Attack
Timeline
On 17 May 2024, at 2:30 am, two college students entered the Ulu Tiram police station to file a report regarding an alleged molestation incident that occurred two years ago. Five minutes later, a suspect arrived at the station on a motorcycle and proceeded to the back of the station. As Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi went to investigate the suspect, he was fatally stabbed and had his firearm taken by the suspect. Two other policemen then rushed to the back of the station to engage the suspect. A shootout ensued in which Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad was fatally shot while the other was injured. The suspect was also fatally shot by a third policeman at the scene.
Both college students were apprehended for questioning in relation to their connection to the attack. At 6 am, police stormed the suspect's family home in Ulu Tiram, resulting in the arrest of five people suspected to also be members of JI.
On 19 June 2024, the suspect's five family members, including his parents and three siblings, were officially charged in court for alleged terrorism-related offences. Local authorities identified the suspect's mother as a Singaporean citizen, while the rest of the suspect's family members were Malaysians.
Related events
The attack was followed by several further incidents, including a death threat to a Democratic Action Party (DAP) member of parliament (MP), and two individuals trying to trespass into the Istana Negara. Another individual was arrested after trying to snatch a police sub-machine gun at the Dato Keramat police station in Penang.
Reactions
Domestic
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, offered condolences to the families of the killed police officers.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that firm action should be taken against those who attempt to create chaos in Malaysia to the extent of causing deaths. Anwar said he supports all efforts made by the police and asked the public to give their full cooperation to the authorities.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reminded the police to redoubling their efforts and not taking any terrorist threat lightly following disclosure by the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) that terrorist groups are using online video games to recruit youth to join their movement.
The Malaysian Islamic Party questioned the security preparedness of the country's civil forces and also requested the Home Ministry to answer on why the police failed to stop the attack from happening.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail affirmed that the attack was carried out by a lone suspect and that they had former terrorist or militant group members under constant monitoring. Due to the attack, the previous procedure of keeping the police stations' main gates opened around the clock had been modified to have the gates shut at 10.00 p.m. each night.
International
Indonesia: Following the attack, the Indonesian National Police counter-terrorist unit Detachment 88 imposed tighter monitoring and surveillance of terrorist networks and their activities nationwide.
Singapore: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack and extended sympathies and condolences to the families of the killed and injured officers. The ministry also advised Singaporeans travelling to Malaysia to take necessary precautions. Authorities also stepped up security measures at the Causeway and Second Link border checkpoints, which resulted in a longer than usual time required to cross the borders.
United States: US ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan expressed his condolences to the families of the two policemen killed in the incident, stating US willingness to assist the Malaysian authorities in combating terrorism. He added the tragedy serves as a reminder that both US and Malaysia share common interests against terrorism and cannot afford to relax their vigilance.
Jemaah Islamiyah
Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the co-founder of the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, condemned the incident and insisted he personally was not involved in the attack through a video sent by his son to Malaysiakini. He further expressed that whoever accuses or trying to implicate him with the attack are lying and asking them to prove it in front of Allah and advising Muslim youths to not follow hardline ways by easily labelling others as infidels without any reasons based on the Quran. He stated that Islam should be defended only through dawah and prayers, not by killings or bombings.
