Yesterday in Kabul, two suicide bombers killed 61 people and more than 207 people were injured. Recently in Nice, a terrorist used truck to kill more than 20 people. A few days ago, in Wurzburg, Germany a young refugee who is of unknown origin (Afghan/Pakistani) had attacked train passengers with knife and axe, where five people were injured.
In addition, an 18-year-old German male of Iranian origin had killed at least eight people and wounded more than 20 people in Munich, Germany on Friday. This is regarded as a killing rampage. Three days ago, in Sydney, a man ignited gas bottles inside a vehicle and set the vehicle ablaze. Fortunately, no untoward incident had happened. Both suspects are believed to have had a mental history.
Meanwhile in RAF Marham near Norfolk in England, the UK authority believe that there had been attempts to abduct a serviceman by two suspected terrorists who allegedly belong to a larger group.
In Nice, Kabul and Wurzburg, IS has claimed responsibility. In Munich and Sydney, the motive of the attacks is unclear and at this moment no one has claimed any accountability.
Nowadays any terrorist attacks are always associated with IS. In rare cases like in Munich and Sydney, people who have mental disease can cause the perception of a terrorist attack. Interestingly in Norfolk, attempted abduction is involved in a terrorist attack.
The trend of current global terrorist attacks is evolving. There is no longer a requirement for a detailed plan, proper equipment or tools, large amount of funds or an enormous group of people.
With a little money, easily available tools, without a proper plan and mostly with a small group or as a lone wolf, nowadays a terrorist attack is launched as witnessed in Nice, Kabul and Wurzburg, Germany.
This is very confounding for the intelligence and security agencies. More and more terrorist attacks make the situation become volatile now.
Whereas for the security agencies, the safety of the people becoming their main concern, their own safety is in jeopardy as well because of the current trend.
Not only is IS lethal in their attacks, but also people who have mental disorders were probably inspired by IS to launch attacks in their capacity as a lone wolf.
In Malaysia, on Friday the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) had announced the arrest of 14 IS terrorists including a woman and a bomb-maker, together with a 1kg explosive device. Apart from that, PDRM also crippled a group of hired killers lately.
Therefore because of highly successful operations against IS in Malaysia, IS can engage other hired groups to kill prominent political leaders and high-ranking police officers. The collaboration between these groups is extremely possible for the current situation. IS is well-funded and they are able to fund to hire killers for the said purpose.
In addition, they can also kidnap the targeted people and family as well, like what has happened in an attempted kidnapping of a serviceman in Norfolk, England.
Nothing is dreadful for IS. This is the most dangerous terrorist group in the world now. If they can kill their own brothers and bomb the Mosque of the Prophet in Madinah, anything is possible for them.
In a nutshell, not only do the security and intelligence agencies need to be vigilant all times and find all the means to prevent further terrorist attacks from happening in Malaysia, but people also need to stand shoulder to shoulder with the said agencies on this matter. They can play a proactive role by providing necessary information about the suspicious behavior of anyone they dealt with to these agencies to prevent any attacks in future.
R PANEIR SELVAM is chairperson, Association of Legal and Policy Researchers.
