Malaysia police arrest 4 in US$1 mln airport robbery

BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Four suspects in a 1 million U.S. dollar robbery and shootout April 9 at Kuala Lumpur's airport that left five people wounded have been detained, a Malaysian police official said Monday.

The four Malaysians were detained in three separate raids in southern Johor state Friday, said Zahedi Ayob, chief of the police force responsible for Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Zahedi told The Associated Press that more people are suspected to be involved in the airport robbery.

He declined comment on what role the four detained suspects may have played in the robbery. The suspects were not immediately charged.

Firing hand guns, the robbers stole a bag of Singapore currency worth 1 million dollars from two money changers as they were walking to go inside the airport. The money changers and three others were injured in the shooting.

The robbery lasted less then three minutes and the culprits fled in getaway cars as airport guards opened fire.

The brazen robbery highlighted the country's worsening crime situation and raised questions about airport security.

In Friday's raids, cash, guns and other items were also seized, Zahedi said.

Local media, citing unidentified sources, reported Monday that police were looking for a fifth suspect who knew the money changers' routine. Police have also found two burned-out cars, believed to be the getaway vehicles, the reports said.

(Agencies)