Malaysian police have detained 12 men suspected of being linked to the Islamic State group and who are believed to be plotting attacks on strategic government targets in the country.
 
   National police chief Khalid Abu Bakar says the men, all Malaysians aged from 17 to 41, were detained during an operation this weekend.
 
   He said Sunday that the men were believed to be responding to calls by Islamic State group leaders in Syria to attack secular Islamic countries.
 
   Khalid said police also seized ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate powder, kerosene and wires, among other items that could be used to make bombs.
 
   Malaysia has detained nearly 100 suspected supporters of the Islamic State group in the past two years. (AP)