Malaysia detains 9 terror suspects

Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, right, speaks to the media after a closed door meeting with relatives of passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 at a hotel in Bangi, Malaysia, Wednesday, Apr 2, 2014. AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian police say nine suspected militants have been detained for allegedly planning to carry out terrorist acts in the country and abroad.

National police chief Khalid Abu Bakar says the nine Malaysians, aged between 25 and 55, were arrested Monday in several locations in two states.

Khalid says the suspects were believed to have links with terrorist cells abroad.

He says that some of them had undergone terrorism training and held secret meetings to raise funds and spread militant ideology. There are no further details and police officials declined to comment.

The nine were held under Malaysia’s Security Offenses Act, which allows police to hold suspects for up to 28 days before they must be brought to court.