Slain engineer Fadi Albatsh
Photo: EPA
Malaysia: Weapons used in Albatsh killing possibly found
Malaysian chief of police says 2 assassins made getaway in awaiting van after abandoning motorcycle, leaving for neighboring country; official confirmation regarding weapons still forthcoming, he qualifies, adding hitmen used fake Serbian, Montenegrin passports.
Malaysian police revealed Saturday that the two assassins
who killed
Palestinian Hamas engineer Fadi Albatsh
used a van to escape the scene of the assassination, after leaving the motorcycle they used to get there behind.
Royal Malaysia Police Inspector General Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the vehicle was awaiting the killers, and that they later escaped to another country in the region. The Malaysian police was reportedly investigating whether they had escaped to Thailand.
Albatsh (R) explaining Gaza's problem
The Malaysian chief of police added that weapons that may have been used in the hit were sent to a forensics laboratory, clarifying it was still unclear whether they were indeed used in the killing.
The weapons used to kill engineer Fadi Albatsh may have been found, Malaysian police said
"Police have exposed the weapon," he said, "but I cannot yet divulge more details until a report on the matter is received."
Lastly, Harun revealed that the assassins used fake passports from Serbia and Montenegro to enter Malaysia, adding passports of other countries may have also been used.
Albatsh, 35 at the time of his death, was shot to death April 21 at around 6am by two unknown assailants riding a motorcycle, as he was making his way from his Kuala Lumpur home to a nearby mosque.
Inspector General Mohamad Fuzi Harun added the 2 hitmen were using fake passports from Serbia and Montenegro (Photo: AP)
The engineer, originally from the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, worked at the isolated enclave's electricity company before leaving for Malaysia. He received his bachelor's degree from the Islamic University of Gaza, and a doctorate from a Malaysian university after moving to the country in 2011.
He was considered outstanding in the field of electrical engineering and has won numerous awards for his work. According to his résumé, he had worked in areas that may relate to installing transmitters on drones.
He was buried in Gaza on April 26. "Albatsh had always hoped for a martyr's death," Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh said at his funeral. "We shall sever the arm that was sent to rid of this knowledge."
Hamas leader Haniyeh said at his funeral Albatsh had 'always hoped for a martyr's death'
"Albatsh returned to Gaza in spite of the opposition of (Defense Minister Avigdor) Lieberman. We thank Malaysia, Egypt and anyone who helped in returning him to Gaza," he added.
"It's an honor for Palestine, Gaza and Jabalia for Fadi to have hailed from there. Blood is the fuel of our lives and assassinations are the path to martyrdom. We shall prevail," the Hamas chief vowed.
