Maritime Terrorism A Real Threat In Straits Of Malacca, Warns IGP

In this International Herald Tribune article, the IGP serves a grim warning about the ever-present danger of maritime terrorism.

The Malacca Strait remains vulnerable to a terrorist strike that would send political and economic shock waves worldwide, Malaysia's police chief said Tuesday.

Militants could hijack a ship carrying hazardous material or use a vessel as a weapon to hit port and land facilities, Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan told law and shipping officials from more than 30 countries at an ocean security conference.

Maritime terrorism is a "threat which is real and possible that is lurking in the straits," Musa said. "The straits must be kept open and safe, and the prime responsibility is with the three littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore."

The 900-kilometer (550-mile) -long strait between peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia's Sumatra island has been notorious in the past for robberies by sea pirates, who can hide amid narrow channels, shallow reefs and thousands of tiny islands.

Read the entire report HERE.

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Earlier post: Number Of Pirate Attacks In 2006: International Maritime Bureau Claims At Least Ten, Malaysia Says Only Two!