Schoolgirl eyed Isis before attending religious school, police say

The familiar flag of Isis, which has been attracting foreign fighters, including a 14-year-old from Malaysia who was nabbed before boarding a flight on her way to Syria. – Reuters file pic, February 22, 2015.

A schoolgirl, detained in connection with an attempt to join the so-called Isis militant group in Syria, was believed to have been interested in its ideology, even before entering a religious school.

Bukit Aman Special Branch principal assistant director (counter-terrorism division) principal assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the information was based on an initial police investigation conducted on the 14-year-old from Muar, Johor.

"However, our investigation is ongoing to determine whether the religious school where she was studying was in anyway, involved in spreading the militant group's ideology.

"We have identified the religious school involved... and until now, the investigations are ongoing.

"However, we believe the girl has been exposed to the group's ideology from the internet, long before studying in that religious school," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Ayob said the police would also investigate the background of the school's teachers to facilitate investigations.

The girl, who is from a religious school in Shah Alam, was detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport last Tuesday as she was about to depart for Syria via Egypt, to allegedly join the Isis group. – Bernama