Shootout at KLIA after robbery

[HijazKamalHasnan 0]

Perhaps KLIA should rope in the elite arm forces of the RMAF, PASKAU to guard KLIA.

[Azri M. 0]

I saw the scene photos, IT HAPPENED AT THE MAIN DEPARTURE HALL aka door to check in counters Can you imagine if you're there

Author's impression on the event from NST

 

 

 

NST

SEPANG: There was mayhem outside the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 7.50pm yesterday when four gunmen opened fire on two moneychangers and their bodyguard before escaping with almost RM3.5 million.

The shoot-out, which lasted for about five minutes, left five injured.

 

They were moneychangers Muhamad Fadzil Amanullah Khan, 20, and Bukhari Abdullah, 22, their armed guard Ahmad Suhaime Mohd Yussop, 49, an off-duty policeman, Lance Corporal Zainudin Mat Isa from Putrajaya, and a Nepalese contract worker, 29-year-old Lal Bahadur Shres.

 

The gunmen had ambushed the moneychangers who were on their way to meet another moneychanger who had arrived from Singapore.

 

The moneychangers, from Kuala Lumpur, were carrying S$1.5 million (RM3.5 million) in one bag.

The victims got down from the vehicle and were walking towards the departure hall when the four gunmen appeared, two in front and two at the back. Without a word, they opened fire.

 

The armed escort returned fire but was shot in the leg along with the moneychangers.

 

Sepang police chief Superintendent Zahedi Ayub said they believed none of the gunmen was hit.

 

Most of them victims were shot in the legs. The gunmen coolly walked up to them, took the bag and left in two vehicles, believed to be a BMW and a Toyota Hilux.

 

Roadblocks were set up around KLIA within 15 minutes of the incident but at press time, no suspects were detained.

 

Zahedi said the gunmen struck as soon as the victims got out of their vehicles at the driveway outside Gate 7 of the departure area.

 

"The victims were attacked from the front and behind," Zahedi said.

 

"The Nepalese was caught in the crossfire. He was a contract worker who was being sent to the airport by a friend."

 

The off-duty policeman was sending his friend off when he was also caught in the crossfire.

 

When the drama ended, the driveway was strewn with bullet casings, some lying about 25 metres from the scene. Several glass panels at Gates 7 and 8 were also shattered.

 

Witnesses identified the gunmen as having dark complexion. Two accomplices were waiting for them in the getaway vehicles.

 

---

 

From Malay Mail

 

Malay Mail perspective

[HijazKamalHasnan 0]

Are these armed guards of the money changer allowed in KLIA in the first place? Or is MAHB suppose to have their own security escort them.

Edited April 10, 2008 by HijazKamalHasnan

[Azuan Zahdi 2]

Another high profile case. On a brighter side, no one dies and it's a good lesson for MAHB.

 

To be fair on the police, I have seen a few times airport police patrolling with automatic rifle around KLIA. Yes, we don't have the UTK/SWAT patrolling the airport, but there tis a police station in the airport and during peak hours, you can even see lots of traffic policeman (who are armed and ready) manning the arrival lanes.

 

I think soon we'll see more police and even UTK guaring our KLIA, KL Sentral and other Airports.

 

On a different note, this kind of high profile case usually got solved quite fast. Let's see how fast our intel capabilities can track those crook down and UTK being sent to put bullets in their head.

Edited April 10, 2008 by Azuan Zahdi

[Victor A. 2]

i believed when there's a huge sum of money being transport around, it is a must to have a heavy escorts (especially from the police, be it GOF, VAT 69 or whatever unit they have). to rely solely on the private security firm is just not enough as the 'tools' which they have aren't sufficient (pump-gun, revolver vs semi-auto weaponry) and on top of that most of the personnels are over the age of 55. with very minimal protection that they have, its only an invitation for those potential arm robbers to pounce on.

 

as for security in KLIA, well its high time that MAHB re-look at their security requirement (personnel, special unit) and SOP. this latest arm robbery in KLIA won't be the last and it will happen again in the future. the next time it happen, the robbers might not run away with a get-away car, instead they might run away with a plane along with hundreds of passengers as hostage (some might say this is ridiculous tactics but Al-Qaeda smacked a metal bird into WTC too is a ridiculous tactics).

[Louis L. 2]

thinking of it send chills all over my spine ... eventhough now i seldom use the MTB (instead LCCT ) , last time , during the sweet old days , i always hang out infront of the gate to have a smoke or 2 ........

 

scary ...... imagine if i were there ....

[Louis L. 2]

taken from nst.com.my

 

KLIA still safe location, says deputy IGP

BERNAMA

 

KANGAR, THURS:

 

The KL International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang is still a safe location because the robbery shootout there last night is an isolated case, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Ismail Omar says.

He said the police were hunting and tracking down the suspects who made off with S$1.5 million (RM3.3 million).

 

“This case is isolated and the public should not perceive the KLIA as an unsafe location,” he told reporters after launching Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) Undergraduate Volunteer Corps (SukSis) here today.

 

He said the KLIA did not have closed circuit cameras at the incident scene.

 

He was commenting on the 7.50pm shootout between security guards and robbers which left six people including a police personnel wounded. About 40 bullet shells were recovered at the scene.

 

 

merely a statement to calm all citizents ,IMO, i agree it is an isolated case . But i also agree that the security at KUL should be tighten more ..

[Nicholas Wan 0]

so happen i was on the way to work for syd(gate 4) then i head people saying they heard gun shots.

I saw police running all around.later while on the way to syd in the plane, a pax showed me some picture and video clip as he was just a few meter away. saw people lying on the ground...he should sell this clip to CNN..ha ha

[LW Wong 0]

I wonder why the moneychangers didn't enter via the arrival hall? Since the other guy had arrived from Singapore.

Edited April 10, 2008 by LW Wong

[Ignatius 4]

Oh yes, why not, its the greatest airport in the world.. where everything literally flies, including bullets, one of the best airports because they dont even need policemen to guard them... and when bad things happen, they(d10t POLICEMEN) cleans things up, even to the extend of asking why people carry so much money.. shouldnt the question be asked, where were you guys when it happened and even before it happened, aren't security your top priorities.. man i feel so ashame of you guys <_>

[HijazKamalHasnan 0]

having police around may not help..a more serious shoot out would have occurred and deaths would have been possible. the robbers were very determined..as the news said it looks like a do or die robbery..it's possible no policemen would have deterred them without having serious casualties. The robbers were obviously well prepared and obviously familiar with firearms, disciplined enuff to shoot their victims on the legs, note they were also confronting armed guards and killing them would have been easier for them, a novice would have aimed at the head and torso. Better have them get away with the money and track them later.It's merciful that no one died.

 

Some Malaysian defense enthusiasts says at cari.com that the weapons they used were probably of high caliber..50 bullets were dispensed by the robbers. Even police do not want to tell us what kind of weapons were used. It's that bad.

Edited April 10, 2008 by HijazKamalHasnan

[Victor A. 2]

having police around may not help..a more serious shoot out would have occurred and deaths would have been possible. the robbers were very determined..as the news said it looks like a do or die robbery..it's possible no policemen would have deterred them without having serious casualties. The robbers were obviously well prepared and obviously familiar with firearms, disciplined enuff to shoot their victims on the legs, note they were also confronting armed guards and killing them would have been easier for them, a novice would have aimed at the head and torso. Better have them get away with the money and track them later.It's merciful that no one died.

 

Some Malaysian defense enthusiasts says at cari.com that the weapons they used were probably of high caliber..50 bullets were dispensed by the robbers. Even police do not want to tell us what kind of weapons were used. It's that bad.

 

if no policemen could deterred them, might as well don't station any policemen in and around KLIA. that is why, the police along with MAHB, should and must station a well trained, well equipped personnel in and around KLIA just to prevent such case from happening (other airports around the world does, why can't we?). if the robbers are determined enough to rob, the police too must be even more determined to counter such treat. to track them later is not an easy job and it might take months or even years.

 

that's a lot of bullets being shot around and a few people got shot..that doesn't make sense does it? where does the majority of the bullets went to? 5 people injured and 50 bullets fired...hmmm.... <_>

Edited April 10, 2008 by Victor A.

[Alan B. 5]

I wonder why the moneychangers didn't enter via the arrival hall? Since the other guy had arrived from Singapore.

 

He was going TO Singapore.

 

Just reported on Buletin Utama....... CCTV not working!!!!!! Apa lah!!!

Edited April 10, 2008 by Alan B.

[Desmond C 0]

Walao. Cctv not working?? Malaysia malaysiaaa <_ the should well-equip those polices and guards with bazuka. src="%7B___base_url___%7D/uploads/emoticons/default_laugh.png" alt=":lol:">

[Alan B. 5]

Walao. Cctv not working?? Malaysia malaysiaaa <_ the should well-equip those polices and guards with bazuka. src="%7B___base_url___%7D/uploads/emoticons/default_laugh.png" alt=":lol:">

 

What for give bazuka..... most likely no ammo!

[Andrew Lim 1]

Some Malaysian defense enthusiasts says at cari.com that the weapons they used were probably of high caliber..50 bullets were dispensed by the robbers. Even police do not want to tell us what kind of weapons were used. It's that bad.

 

I highly doubt that the robbers can source .50 caliber weapons in Msia. Even if they can, they must be really stupid to be using them.

 

A fully loaded .50 pistol is almost as heavy a sub machine gun. The recoil can break arms if not properly compensated.

 

Malaysia papers never disclose the type of weapons used because they usually can't tell the difference between a shotgun and a pistol.

 

 

A small number of Malaysian airport police do carry civillian version of the Glock 17. The mag only holds 10 rounds instead of 17.

[kelvin L 1]

They should really wake up from their sleep after this incident, eventhough it is not related with the Airport security. They better be more alert and well armed just like in Changi and HKIA, even in the departure gate lane or in the train, security personel could be seen and well armed with side pistol and heavy fire guns. . Just take a look at our home grown security personel, armed with just a pistol and standing guard at the International departure lane escalator going down to the Immigration area. They need to really wake up not just because of the recent incident, but to be prepared for other eventual moments. Nobody knows what would happen tomorrow.

[BC Tam 2]

Malaysia papers never disclose the type of weapons used because they usually can't tell the difference between a shotgun and a pistol

Neither can they distinguish a Boeing from an Airbus, but that has never deterred them thus far .........

[Victor A. 2]

I highly doubt that the robbers can source .50 caliber weapons in Msia. Even if they can, they must be really stupid to be using them.

 

A fully loaded .50 pistol is almost as heavy a sub machine gun. The recoil can break arms if not properly compensated.

 

Malaysia papers never disclose the type of weapons used because they usually can't tell the difference between a shotgun and a pistol.

A small number of Malaysian airport police do carry civillian version of the Glock 17. The mag only holds 10 rounds instead of 17.

 

i believed it was more like ...50 dispensed bullets rather than .50 cal bullet. carrying and firing a .50 cal gun is not a problem, getting it into the country might be a problem. there's a .50 cal hand-gun..Desert Eagle (Israel), Magnum, Remington..those are favourite heavy cal hand-gun.

 

ohh and sub-machine gun..the most would be around 9mm.

Edited April 10, 2008 by Victor A.

[Ellist 0]

I really hardly see any airport special forces patrolling at KLIA. During my visit to Seoul last year, those airport special forces were everywhere at Incheon airport, with heavy-armed and looked so fit.

This is a typical "tak apalah!!" Msia government attitude. Still remember the incidents happened at Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Pandanan few years ago? They didnt really seriously look into the matter during the Pulau Sipadan case, and only after the pirates came again to Pulau Pandanan, the government only started to deploy armies at those surrounding islands....Really terrible to have such government....the "tak apalah" attitude is sucks!

[KK Lee 5]

 

Level of police patrol is responding to threat level. As we are lucky that terrorist attack is a ‘low threat’ in our country, hence, low level police presence.

 

In high threat environment, submachine gun armed police is primary for deterrent purpose e.g. Car loaded with explosive was driven to Edinburgh terminal in June 07.

 

Heavily armed police may deter criminal initially; however, determined criminal will always out gun the police i.e. arms escalation, which bystanders are more likely to be injured or killed like at KLIA April 08.

 

Believe one feel more secure with unarmed police than with heavily armed police e.g. Britain.

 

[Imran K. 0]

Believe one feel more secure with unarmed police than with heavily armed police e.g. Britain.

 

 

Sorry mate...id feel MUCH MUCH more secure if there were heavily armed police around me

 

Whats the unarmed cop going to do when a random bystander pulls out a shotgun? Scream "BOLA SATU KE BOLA DUA!" into his walkie talkie?

[Khaled 2]

I think they should increase the security level since KLIA is a public place. 50 missed target bullets means nothing but it could have cost 50 lives otherwise. So it is definitely serious. The security level in KLIA is not that bad for a non terrorist target country it's just that it's concentrated to much at the wrong area and wrong people like pilots etc whereby they forgot to look at other areas as well.

 

This is not only for KLIA, It applies to every airport in Malaysia. I once put folded newspaper on top of the luggage scanning machine and passed through security check and collected back the newspaper still folded without being asked to open it. It could have been a knife/gun or whatever inside and it happened at our local airport.

 

BTW I damn hate it when I saw police traffic chasing cars sending/pickup passengers at KLIA.

[iwan 3]

i was shocked by how daring these robbers were when i read the papers today..firing 50 bullets into a packed public area..they must have been desperate,the star also stated that this robbers might have been on a do or die mission..thats how far people would go for money kan..

[Jerry Ang 0]

Shocking indeed!

 

I was in klia that evening, but i left the scene an hour earlier. If it hadn't been for the 6.50pm bus, i would have heard the gun shots too!!!