KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — A total four individuals with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) global terror network have been detained here and in Turkey in an anti-terror operation launched by the police this week.

The four, according to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, includes the 28-year-old who was nabbed at the Setiawangsa LRT station yesterday, just hours before his planned suicide attack in the city.

In a statement, the IGP said the first three individuals, all Malaysians, were nabbed by the Turkish government while they were en route to Syria.

He said the four individuals nabbed are aged between 23 and 28 years, and include a husband and wife pair from Perak, an engineer and an insurance agent, both from Terengganu.

“All those arrested were picked up on suspicion of committing offences under Chapter VIA of the Penal Code on offences related to terrorism, and they will be investigated according to procedure under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012,” he said in the statement.

Earlier today, a source from the police counter-terrorism unit told Malay Mail Online that the man picked up from the LRT station yesterday admitted that he was instructed by his counterpart in Syria to carry out a lone wolf attack at an entertainment venue here.

The attack, the source said, was to have taken place last night.

In his statement, IGP Khalid confirmed that the man admitted to plans to launching a suicide attack and that he was told to do so by his comrades in Syria.

Khalid had earlier today took to Twitter to commend the police force for arresting the man.

“Syabas E8 CK @PDRMsia semlm tkap 1 (left) disyaki elemen IS di LRT Jelatik, Ampg. Senjata dan dokumen IS dirampas. #GoPDRMGo” he wrote using his Twitter handle @KBAB51.

[Translation: Well done, E8 unit @PDRMsia for arresting one man with suspected links to IS elements at the Jelatek LRT station, Ampang. Weapons and IS documents seized. #GoPDRMGo]

The E8 is the counter-terrorism unit under the police Special Branch.

Malaysian police were put on red alert following the bombings in Jakarta two days ago that involved at least seven blasts and left seven people dead.

The Jakarta blasts followed a suicide bombing in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday that killed 10 people, all of whom were Germans, which officials reportedly blamed on the IS.