KUALA LUMPUR – Chaos shattered the pre-dawn tranquilly at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), one of Malaysia’s bustling gateways, with a dramatic shooting incident sending shockwaves through the nation early Sunday morning.
What began as a routine moment for a group of Umrah pilgrims arriving home, swiftly descended into a nightmare, with the reverberations of violence rippling far beyond the confines of the terminal walls.
The suspect, a man who launched a cold-blooded and brazen attack at the terminal before swiftly fleeing the scene, is still at large and has left a bodyguard severely wounded after shots were fired at the airport.
In the wake of this incident, here’s what we know so far:
The suspect was targeting his travel agent wife but hit her bodyguard
Between 1.20am and 1.30am, the arrival hall transformed into a scene straight out of a Hollywood thriller. The perpetrator, identified as 38-year-old Hafizul Harawi, ignited the mayhem by hurling firecrackers (mercun) into the crowd, a terrifying prelude to the violent act that followed.
Eyewitnesses watched in horror as Hafizul, reportedly driven by personal turmoil with his spouse, advanced menacingly towards his wife and her two vigilant bodyguards.
The intended target, Hafizul’s estranged wife, anxiously awaited the return of the Umrah pilgrims, oblivious to the imminent danger she faced.
In a heartbeat, two deafening shots pierced the air, aimed with deadly precision at the heart of the chaos. One bullet found a mark as it struck a bodyguard, critically injuring him and eventually plunging him into an induced coma.
A witness to the incident said that the suspect had initially left the area through the departure hall doors before re-entering the airport’s lobby and heading towards the Block C carpark. The witness also said that he saw that the suspect had kept his gun in his bag before he fled the scene.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain told reporters that the suspect’s wife, who is known as Farah Cie, is in the early stages of pregnancy. She is currently safe and sound.
The link between the wife and the suspect, Shuhaily said, was the travel agency business that they had together, which provides Umrah packages to pilgrims.
However, he said, the motive behind the incident remains limited to personal matters between the duo, who are currently undergoing a divorce.
“Looking at the incident, it is a clear-cut case of attempted murder, so the case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code and Section 8 of the Firearms Act.
“The suspect is believed to have fled and is heading towards the northern side of the country. However, we urged him to surrender himself peacefully. Whatever happens next will not correct the first incident.
“We also urge the public to cooperate with the police, if they see the suspect, please inform the authorities and do not act on their own,” he told reporters during a press conference at the scene on Sunday.
Prior criminal records, reports
Shuhaily also said that prior to today’s incident, the suspect’s wife had lodged a police report twice, once in 2016 and once in December last year, over criminal threats made to her by the suspect.
Meanwhile, he said the security measures at KLIA will be revised.
Apart from that, he said, the suspect has past criminal records for cheating and impersonating civil servants.
He had been detained by police before, as confirmed by the authorities.
Police also confirmed that the incident did not involve any elements of terrorism and that KLIA remains safe and under control.
Seeing that the case is still under police investigation, the suspect’s wife declined to make any further comment, as legally advised by her lawyers.
Armed and dangerous: he used a semi-auto gun, manhunt continues
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that the suspect is believed to have used a semi-automatic 9mm pistol in the shooting, which was believed to have been acquired from a neighbouring country.
Perlis police chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said the border controls along the Malaysia-Thailand border, especially in Perlis, have been intensified to prevent the suspect from fleeing the country.
As for the victim’s wife, the few days of Syawal took a turn for her after she learned that her husband had been shot while on duty.
She said that she was informed of the incident at around 2am today (Sunday) and rushed to Cyberjaya Hospital, where her husband is being treated. She confirmed that her husband’s state was critical and that he was in an induced coma.
However, she said, no vital organs were affected. – April 14, 2024