More than two suspects involved, say KL top cop
Published: Jan 8, 2010 9:48 AM | Updated: Jan 8, 2010 9:50 AM
Police believe more than two suspects were involved in setting a church on fire in Desa Melawati, Wangsa Maju about 12 midnight said Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman.
Police believe more than two suspects were involved in setting a church on fire in Desa Melawati, Wangsa Maju about 12 midnight said Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman.
Muhammad Sabtu said based on information, witnesses saw two motorcycles parked near the church around midnight and witnesses also saw images of someone hurling something towards the three-storey church before an explosion destroyed about 80 percent of the ground floor which housed the administration office.
"Initial investigations reveal that the suspects had broken all the glass window panels in the ground floor of the building before pouring what was believed to be petrol, into the building.
"We believe they used a spanner for breaking the glass panels because police found a spanner and petrol container at the scene plus two burnt helmets in front of the church," he told reporters today.
He said police have yet to determine the motive for the attack on the church but did not rule out the possibility that the incident was related to the High Court's decision to allow the word ‘Allah’ to be used by the publisher of the Catholic weekly The Herald.
Some church equipment salvaged
Muhammad Sabtu also urged the public to refrain from issuing any statements or comments because any reaction may cause racial sentiments.
About 1,500 Christians are believed to frequent the 12-year-old Metro Tabernacle Church for their church activities.
Meanwhile, about 30 church-goers started removing whatever equipment that was salvaged from the fire, when police removed the restriction barriers.
The act also drew criticism from the country's leaders, including past and present prime ministers.
- Bernama
Muhammad Sabtu said based on information, witnesses saw two motorcycles parked near the church around midnight and witnesses also saw images of someone hurling something towards the three-storey church before an explosion destroyed about 80 percent of the ground floor which housed the administration office."Initial investigations reveal that the suspects had broken all the glass window panels in the ground floor of the building before pouring what was believed to be petrol, into the building.
"We believe they used a spanner for breaking the glass panels because police found a spanner and petrol container at the scene plus two burnt helmets in front of the church," he told reporters today.He said police have yet to determine the motive for the attack on the church but did not rule out the possibility that the incident was related to the High Court's decision to allow the word ‘Allah’ to be used by the publisher of the Catholic weekly The Herald.
Some church equipment salvaged
Muhammad Sabtu also urged the public to refrain from issuing any statements or comments because any reaction may cause racial sentiments.
About 1,500 Christians are believed to frequent the 12-year-old Metro Tabernacle Church for their church activities.
Meanwhile, about 30 church-goers started removing whatever equipment that was salvaged from the fire, when police removed the restriction barriers.
The act also drew criticism from the country's leaders, including past and present prime ministers.
- Bernama
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