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Malaysian police hunt for robbers after airport heist

Malaysian police hunted yesterday for at least one getaway car used in a daring US$1 million armed robbery at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport that left five people wounded.

The brazen robbery on Wednesday night was the first of its kind at Malaysia’s main airport, highlighting the country’s worsening crime situation, especially in Kuala Lumpur where muggings and burglaries have become common.

District police chief Zahedi Ayob said police had some leads on the robbery in which four to six men attacked two currency exchange employees as they were about to enter the departure terminal.

The robbers approached the victims from the back and front, firing automatic pistols and grabbing a bag filled with Singapore dollars worth US$1 million.

The two moneychangers, a security escort, a Nepalese bystander and a policeman suffered leg injuries.

They were hospitalized and remained in stable condition, Zahedi said.

Zahedi said the policeman and the security guard were believed to have returned fire but it was not clear if they shot any of the robbers, who walked to a waiting car and drove away.

The robbers were probably Malaysians, Zahedi said.

Windows at the airport entrance were shattered during the shootout.

Zahedi said police were looking for at least one and possibly two getaway cars. Road blocks set up overnight were lifted but police patrol cars were on alert, he said.

News reports said the currency exchange workers were going in to meet a moneychanger who was arriving from Singapore when they were robbed.

Earlier reports said six people were injured, but Zahedi said five were hurt.


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