NIBONG TEBAL, Sept 5 — The police have detained three teenagers, including a secret society member, to facilitate investigations into the attempted murder of a restaurant operator in Taman Merak here yesterday.

The suspects were picked up from their respective homes in Bukit Mertajam near here yesterday and early today.

Penang CID chief SAC Mazlan Kesah said the trio were remanded for a week to facilitate investigations for attempted murder.

He said one of the teenagers was a member of a secret society.

"With the arrests, we believe we can solve the case, while efforts to track down several other individuals linked to the case are underway," he added.

In the incident at 3.13pm, the 43-year-old victim had stopped his car at a parking lot to meet a friend at a restaurant when he was confronted by two men on a motorcycle.

The pillion rider fired four shots in the man's direction, hitting him once on the chest. The restaurant operator was warded at the Seberang Jaya Hospital where his condition was reported to be stable. — Bernama