The police have successfully crippled a large-scale plot hatched by the Al-Qaeda and Islamic State terrorists to stage an attack on an international target last year.

Bukit Aman Special Branch deputy director Cheong Koon Kock (above), in divulging the success, said 10, comprising two locals and eight foreigners, were detained in the process for further investigations.

He said those detained were members of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State who were aspiring to set up a cell in Malaysia.

"Information obtained through the operation was shared with foreign intelligence agencies which succeeded in thwarting a large scale attack at the international level which were planned by the group," Cheong said.

"Police also seized six Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), a firearm and 15 ammunitions which the terrorists wanted to use to attack house of worships following the death of a fireman," he said at a special media conference on the achievement of the police in 2019 and plans for 2020 in Bukit Aman today.

Cheong said the special branch also succeeded in detaining 72 suspects, including 26 locals and foreign nationals who were suspected to be involved in terrorist activities throughout last year.

In addition, he said the Special Branch was also involved in smuggling eradication operations in four contingents - Kedah, Pahang, Perak and Negeri Sembilan - involving 29 arrests.

"The police also seized numerous goods worth about RM3 million during the operations," he said.

The Special Branch had also been given the mandate to open an investigation paper on illegal hunting starting this year, he added.

- Bernama