KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — Police have arrested three suspected Islamic State (IS) militants said to have targeted the Hindu temple in Batu Caves and several entertainment outlets in the national capital this week.

The attacks were believed to have been scheduled to take place on the eve of Merdeka Day, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement today.

"The three are Malaysians who received orders from Mohamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi to launch the attacks by using grenades or firearms on the eve of National Day,” he added.

The suspects were arrested in Selangor and Pahang between last Saturday and Monday in an operation led by the special counter terrorism team.

Khalid said the detainees, aged between 20 and 27, had planned to leave the country for Syria to join the terror group with the help of Muhammad after successfully completing the attacks here.

"The police confiscated a grenade, pistol and 24 bullets from one of the suspects. These items were believed to have been supplied by Muhammad,” he said.

Muhammad, a Malaysian who goes by an assumed name Abu Hamzah al-Fateh, currently resides in Syria.

He was believed to have masterminded the June grenade attack on the Movida nightclub in Puchong, Selangor that injured eight patrons.

* In the earlier version, the headline says the attack was planned for Merdeka Day and not Merdeka eve. The error is regretted.