The police today arrested two people for allegedly spreading rumours through e-mails of impending terrorist attacks in Kuala Lumpur.

The police said that the two, a man and a woman, have been arrested at their office this morning. Both are employees of a private firm in Kuala Lumpur.

The police also seized the computers used to send the messages.

According to national news agency Bernama, the two will be charged under Section 28 of the Internal Security Act which covers the offences of disseminating false reports. If found guilty, the duo face a maximum fine of RM1,000, or a jail term of one year or both.

City deputy chief police officer Ahmad Baharin Idrus said the arrest was made following a police report by officials from the Australian High Commission last Saturday.

The officials had complained of receiving several e-mails claiming that terrorists were planning to bomb some major shopping complexes and other popular places patronised by locals and foreigners.

"Our initial investigation shows that the information in the e-mail is baseless and the suspects do not have any link with militant groups locally or abroad. However, we are checking further to establish their motive for sending out the e-mails," Bernama quoted Ahmad Baharin as saying.

Avoid crowded areas

Ahmad Baharin added that the police have a list of people who had received the e-mails from the suspects, and hoped that they would assist in the investigations.

"We would also like to advise recipients of similar e-mails not to sent them to others or they will face stern action," he added, without ruling out the possibility of further arrests.

The warning e-mails, purportedly from the duo, was widely circulated in the past week. The e-mails, citing intelligence sources from a neighbouring country, said people should avoid crowded places in the city centre and Petaling Jaya.

The e-mail also warned that the attacks were to take place last weekend.

The e-mail said that the intelligence sources had not provided sufficient evidence to back the claims, adding that the matter was highly confidential and involved the safety of everyone against international terrorism.