A MALAYSIAN Islamic State militant arrested in Pakistan for trying to smuggle arms out of the country was aiming to attack Malaysia, not Thailand, despite trying to board a Thai Airways flight, reports the Bangkok Post today.

Al Muhd Alfie Kqhyriel, 20, was about to board Thai Airways flight TG342 to Bangkok when he was arrested at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Saturday.

A military intelligence source told the Bangkok Post the suspect was heading towards Malaysia, using Thailand as a transit, adding that Malaysian authorities had alerted Thailand over a possible IS attack over the holidays.

“Malaysia did not specifically say where or how a possible attack would occur but mentioned various possibilities, including an attack on some crowded venue or hijack,” the source was quoted as saying.

However, Thai authorities did not believe the suspect targeted Thailand.

Alfie had four pistols, eight ammunition magazines and 70 bullets hidden in the luggage and shoes, according to reports.

Alfie has been handed over to Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence for questioning, other reports said.

The suspect had visited Peshawar during his week-long stay in Pakistan. Peshwar was the site of the December 16, 2014 terror attack against a public school where 149 people, including 132 schoolchildren, were killed.

The six gunmen were from the Tehrik-i-Taliban. – December 26, 2017.