Malaysia faces first Daesh attack

Malaysian police have said an explosion that went off in a bar last week, injuring eight, was the first attack by Daesh in the country.

Police initially said that business rivalry was a more likely motive for the attack on the establishment outside Kuala Lumpur on 28 June, according to the BBC.

They had also added that two men suspected of involvement had been arrested.

Authorities are reportedly increasingly concerned about Daesh-related attacks as a number of Malaysians have gone to fight in Syria.

"There were elements of Daesh involvement in the attack," national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters.

"We found out that the two of them received instructions from one of our own citizens in Syria ... to conduct attacks in Malaysia."

There have seemingly been dozens of extremism-related arrests in recent years, including 13 Malaysians detained following the latest attack but who police said were not directly connected to it.

Nevertheless, governments across the region have warned of an increased threat from the group.