The Malaysian Police have arrested five people over Sunday’s assault on Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Malaysia Ibrahim Sahib Ansar at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The men, aged between 27 and 56, are being held to facilitate investigations under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police are also probing local groups - which demonstrate support for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and had protested against former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa - under Sosma.

He said the investigation is to, among others, identify their links to the organisation including the possibility of their involvement in supporting LTTE financially to fight the Sri Lankan government. Khalid said police have also identified four more suspects who were involved in the 4pm incident, and are working to track down their whereabouts.

He said the five suspects in custody were picked up in Dengkil, Ipoh and in KL in an operation that began yesterday.

"The envoy sustained bruises on his face and body in the incident. He had sought treatment at the Gleneagles Medical Centre. He is okay"

"We regret that this incident happened. I want to warn these groups which support the LTTE that LTTE is a terror organisation that had been banned by the United Nations, and we, as a UN signatory country, can take action against them (LTTE supporters)," the IGP said at the federal police headquarters, today. Khalid was speaking to reporters after the opening ceremony of the Inspector-General of Police Gallery.

(New Straits Times)