PETALING JAYA, June 29 — Police are investigating if terrorists were behind the grenade attack at Movida Kitchen, Bar, and Club Lounge outlet in Puchong, where a crowd had gathered to watch Euro 2016 live match early yesterday.
This comes following a Facebook posting of a man who pledged allegiance to Islamic State claiming responsibility over the incident.
The man in his posting said the attack was in retaliation to social activities held during Ramadan.
Eight football fans were injured when a man hurled a grenade at a crowd who were waiting for the England-Iceland match to begin at about 2am at the outlet in IOI Boulevard.
Bukit Aman Special Branch director Datuk Seri Fuzi Harun said police were looking at all angles and were verifying the authenticity of the claims.
“It is still too early to conclude if the attacks were carried out by terrorists or not.
“We are working closely with the state criminal investigation department to verify these claims,” he said.
Selangor deputy CID chief ACP Yahya Abdul Rahman said: “We will investigate the victims, patrons, along with the business and premises owners as well, to establish the motive behind the attack.”
He said recordings from all closed-circuit television cameras in the area would be examined, as they try to ascertain possible suspects behind the attack.
The owner of the establishment, Roger Hew, said he did not see the incident as one related to business rivalry, claiming he had a healthy working relationship with other business owners in the area.
“We do not have any bad blood between us, and we even socialise regularly,” he said.
About 20 people had filled up tables at the porch of the outlet when the attack took place 45 minutes before kick-off at 2.15am.
The explosion shattered the perimeter glass panel causing shrapnel to hit patrons. The windscreens of several cars nearby were also damaged. The ball bearings from the grenade dented tables and chairs.
Earlier yesterday, Selangor deputy police chief Datuk Abd Rahim Jaafar said the suspect and an accomplice fled the scene on their motorcycle after throwing the grenade.
He said four men and four women, including a female Chinese national, were injured in the explosion.
A bomb squad, forensic investigators and a canine unit were deployed to the scene in the aftermath of the incident.
Investigators had also recovered the safety lever of the grenade where the explosion took place, along with the safety pin at the main road opposite the bar.
All victims were being treated at the Serdang Hospital and Sunway Medical Centre.
