One dead, 12 hurt in KL grenade blast

A grenade blast in the tourist strip in the Malaysian capital that killed one person and injured a dozen has been blamed on a gangland turf war.

One man was killed and a dozen other people wounded when a hand grenade exploded in a tourist section of Malaysia's capital in what police suspect is related to a gangland turf battle.

Police said a parking attendant who was the most seriously hurt later died in hospital following the pre-dawn blast on Thursday outside a pub in Kuala Lumpur's bustling Bukit Bintang neighbourhood, a popular area for shopping, dining and nightlife.

"We believe it was a hand grenade that was placed in front of a pub," Kuala Lumpur police chief Tajudin Mohamad Isa said, noting that an unexploded grenade was also found.

Zainol Samah, police chief of the district where the incident took place, said there were 13 casualties.

In addition to the parking lot attendant, who was Malaysian, eight other Malaysians were hurt along with two Chinese nationals, one Singaporean and one Thai, he said.

Other police officials have claimed 14 total casualties, including the deceased.

Police said the motive for the incident is being investigated, but another top police official said a gangland feud was suspected.

A heavily damaged minivan could be seen at the scene of the incident, which was roped off by a tight police presence.

Such incidents are generally rare in Muslim-majority Malaysia, but public concern has steadily grown over rising crime.

That concern spiked last year with an explosion of gun violence that authorities blamed on rival gangs battling over turf, prompting a tough anti-crime crackdown.

Authorities have also warned recently of the potential for Islamic militant violence, after saying scores of Malaysians had joined the bloody civil war in Syria.

Officials fear they will become radicalised there by the Islamic State group and bring back violent extremist views or inspire anti-Western attacks by supporters in Malaysia, where a moderate brand of Islam prevails.

Police said in August they had arrest 19 people in an amateurish IS-inspired plot to carry out a wave of bombings in Malaysia.

Police officials have so far said there was no indication of terrorist involvement in Thursday's grenade blast.


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