UK raises terror alert for Sabah, warning against kidnappings

The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning against travel to Sabah's coastal towns and island, citing kidnappings and criminality. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 20, 2016.The UK's Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Sabah's coastal towns and islands, reported the Daily Mail.

The terror alert for these places in Malaysia has been also raised from “general” to “high”.

On its website, the Foreign Office said there was “a high threat from terrorism” there and attacks on places visited by foreigners “could be indiscriminate”.

Some of the places mentioned were Lankayan, Mabul, Pom Pom, Kapalai, Litigan, Sipadan and Mataking.

“There is a threat to foreigners of kidnapping and criminality on the eastern coast of Sabah and in particular the islands close to the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines,” said the Foreign Office.

More than 400,000 Britons visit Malaysia every year, reported the Daily Mail.

Kidnappings off the coast of Sabah are not uncommon. Two Malaysians were abducted by Abu Sayyaf militants in Sandakan last May.

Thien Nyuk Fun was returned home six months later after her ransom was paid while Bernard Then was beheaded and his body was dumped in the forests of southern Philippines.

Last month, the Malaysian police said the country was on its highest ever security alert after the attack in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It was reported that more than 100 have left Malaysia for Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Last April, Malaysian authorities foiled a deadly bomb attack in its capital Kuala Lumpur by arresting 12 people linked to the extremist group. – February 20, 2016.