[Straits Times] TEN terrorism suspects detained in Malaysia are believed to be linked to the Nigerian student responsible for the botched Christmas Day plane bombing near Detroit, a report said on Thursday. Malaysia said on Wednesday it had arrested the 10, including nine foreigners, for 'acts of terrorism' and that they were members of an international terror outfit tracked down in cooperation with foreign intelligence groups.The government-linked New Straits Times said the 10, including several Nigerians, were linked to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who allegedly tried to detonate explosives on the Northwest Airlines plane approaching Detroit.
'It was learnt that foreign anti-terrorism agencies informed Malaysian authorities that the 10 were linked to Abdulmutallab and that they were in Malaysia,' said the paper.
The English-language daily did not cite any sources for its front-page report. Malaysian police chief Musa Hassan refused to confirm or dismiss the report. 'I cannot reveal anything, it's still under investigation,' he told AFP. 'I am not denying anything,' he added.
Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on Wednesday that the 10 were being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial. Mr Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, chairman of the Abolish ISA Movement, said the activist group would later on Thursday release the names and nationalities of the 10 suspects, who come mainly from Yemen, Syria, Nigeria and Jordan.