(Kuala Lumpur) A serious attack on police in Malaysia’s Selangor state left a 26-year-old officer’s right hand severed at the wrist. The foreign man responsible fled and clashed with police again, prompting officers to shoot him dead in self-defence.
The attack, the most serious against police in Malaysia in recent years, drew close attention from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who strongly condemned the violence.
According to Oriental Daily, Selangor police chief Shazeli told a late-night press conference at Selayang Hospital on Wednesday (11 November) that police had received a report at about 4pm that day of a man causing a disturbance in a home in Gombak, Selangor. The man was suspected to be mentally unstable.
After police, fire and rescue personnel and health department officers arrived, a man suddenly rushed out of the front door wielding two machetes and attacked those at the scene. A 26-year-old lance corporal had his hand severed at the wrist and suffered slash wounds to his head and body. Several firefighters and Ministry of Health medical personnel also suffered minor injuries.
The suspect fled downstairs amid the chaos. Police immediately gave chase and found him at a playground near the residential area at about 7.30pm that evening.
As officers moved in to arrest him, the suspect again attacked them with his blades. Police fired several shots in self-defence and to subdue him. He fell to the ground and was taken to hospital, where he was later confirmed to have died from his injuries.
Online news outlet Malaysiakini reported that the officer’s hand was successfully reattached after an eight-hour operation at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Preliminary police investigations established that the suspect was a foreign man, but his nationality and other personal details have yet to be confirmed.
In a Facebook post on Thursday (12 November), Anwar condemned the attack and instructed the authorities to take firm action to ensure the safety of law enforcement officers on duty.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also said on Facebook that he had ordered police to investigate the case thoroughly. He stressed that Malaysians and foreigners alike must abide by Malaysian law and must not resort to violence or obstruct law enforcement over any grievance.
