PUTRAJAYA: A manhunt is underway in Malaysia following a shooting incident at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in the early hours of Sunday (14 April).
The 38-year-old attacker opened fire on his wife at the entrance to the arrival hall at Terminal 1 at around 01.20.
He fired two shots from a distance of about three to four meters but missed, said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
One of the shots hit and seriously injured one of the two female bodyguards, and the bodyguard is now hospitalized in critical condition.
Two members of the public were also injured when the man lit and threw firecrackers as he walked towards his wife to attack her.
Mohd Shuhaily said initial investigations showed that the shooting was caused by personal problems between the suspect and his wife, who was believed to be in the early stages of pregnancy.
The couple is said to be in the process of divorcing, he added.
Mohd Shuhaily urged the suspect to surrender and said that all CID personnel in neighboring countries had been roped in to carry out the search, which would cover the country’s border areas.
The man previously fled in a car parked on the second floor of Block C and was believed to be heading north.
“I advise the suspect to cooperate and surrender at any police station. Police have identified the suspect, who is dangerous and armed.
Therefore, anyone who meets the suspect must share information (alert the police) and not act independently, he said in a press conference after reviewing KLIA 1.
Police said in an earlier statement that the suspect had three criminal records – two for criminal intimidation and one for theft and impersonating a public servant.
Mohd Shuhaily said the man’s wife had previously filed two police reports against him for criminal intimidation.
After the final report was filed in December last year, the man was arrested.
“We have submitted the investigation files but there are certain instructions that must be implemented. “After the incident, the suspect’s wife hired a bodyguard,” said Mohd Shuhaily.
