Malaysia believes terrorists involed in attacking Taiwan tourists

Malaysian police said Saturday the gunmen who shot dead a tourist from Taiwan and kidnapped his wife on Pom Pom Island, Semporna, on Friday had links to a terrorist group.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the group was notorious for kidnapping but no ransom demand had been made for the safe return of Chang An Wei, 58.

"The initial information we have is that there were eight of them. They were a band of opportunists that took advantage of the security void left by Filipino border authorities that had been moved to concentrate on the (Typhoon) Haiyan disaster up north," he said.

Khalid did not rule out the involvement of locals in the planning of the raid, but said police were investigating if these individuals were Sabahans or Filipinos who slipped through the border.