Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Malaysian police have shot dead a man reported to be a Nigerian national after he allegedly attacked police officers and other emergency responders with two machetes, severing the right hand of a police officer during a violent incident at an apartment complex in Desa Amanpuri, Kepong, near Kuala Lumpur.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, after authorities received a report about a man allegedly behaving aggressively at a residential property.
According to Malaysia’s national news agency, Bernama, the attack left a 26-year-old police lance corporal with his right wrist severed, alongside injuries to his head and body. Several firefighters and Health Ministry personnel also reportedly sustained minor injuries during the confrontation. BERNAMA +1
The suspect was subsequently shot by police after allegedly attempting to attack officers again while they were trying to apprehend him. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Although Nigerian media organisations have identified the deceased as a Nigerian man, Malaysian police initially described him as a foreign national, and his identity remained under investigation in the latest official reports.
How the Incident Unfolded
Malaysian authorities reportedly received information from a member of the public at approximately 4pm on November 11 about a man who was believed to be in an unstable condition and behaving aggressively inside an apartment.
Following the report, a team comprising police officers, firefighters from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department and personnel from the Ministry of Health was dispatched to the location to assess the situation and manage the disturbance.
According to Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar, the situation escalated when officers and other emergency personnel attempted to enter the residential unit.
The suspect allegedly emerged from the apartment armed with two machetes and launched an attack on the responding personnel.
A 26-year-old lance corporal attached to the Mobile Patrol Vehicle unit of the Gombak District Police Headquarters sustained severe injuries, including the loss of his right hand at the wrist and additional injuries to his head and body.
Several firefighters and Health Ministry personnel also sustained minor injuries.
Following the attack, the suspect reportedly fled the residential property before being located near a playground within the neighbourhood.
Police said the man was spotted between approximately 7.30pm and 8pm. When officers attempted to apprehend him, he allegedly attacked them again with a machete.
According to Shazeli, police fired several shots in self-defence and in an attempt to stop the attack and apprehend the suspect.
The man sustained gunshot injuries and was taken to Hospital Selayang for medical attention. However, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Police have maintained that the shooting occurred after the suspect allegedly launched another attack on officers. Portal Berita RTM +2
Police Investigate Suspect’s Background and Mental State
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident have continued, with Malaysian police examining the suspect’s background, personal circumstances and possible reasons for the violent behaviour.
In an update on Friday, November 13, Selangor Police Chief Shazeli Kahar said investigators had recorded more than 20 statements from individuals, including people who knew the deceased.
He said preliminary information suggested that the suspect might have been experiencing mental health difficulties at the time of the incident.
However, police stressed that the underlying cause of the suspected mental health problems remained under investigation.
The police chief also disclosed that the man had been staying at the apartment with a local friend who was reportedly responsible for paying the rent.
Another significant finding concerned the suspect’s immigration status.
According to Shazeli, information from Malaysia’s Immigration Department indicated that the man had overstayed his permitted period of residence and was in possession of an expired passport.
These details are part of the ongoing investigation into the incident. Authorities have not established publicly all the circumstances that preceded the attack. The Star
Injured Police Officer’s Hand Successfully Reattached
While the suspect died following the police shooting, the injured officer has shown encouraging signs of recovery after undergoing emergency surgery.
Malaysia’s Health Ministry confirmed that surgeons at Kuala Lumpur Hospital successfully reattached the officer’s severed right hand following a complex microsurgical operation.
The procedure, which took approximately eight hours, involved specialists from the hospital’s Upper Limb and Microsurgery Unit.
The surgical team was led by Dr R. Allan Ravi Rajagopal and Dr Aziz Sabbir Husain, with support from other medical professionals, including the anaesthesiology team.
Malaysia’s Communications Minister and government spokesman, Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, announced on November 13 that the Cabinet had received an update on the officer’s recovery.
According to Fahmi, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad informed the Cabinet that the operation had been successful and that the officer could move several fingers on the reattached hand.
The development represents an encouraging early sign following the serious injuries sustained during the attack.
However, further medical monitoring and recovery will be important in determining how much function the officer will eventually regain.
The Malaysian Health Ministry has said Kuala Lumpur Hospital will continue monitoring his condition and providing specialist treatment.
The injured officer was identified as Lance Corporal Thierry Rodger anak Fendy. BERNAMA +2
Malaysian Prime Minister Condemns Attack
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, condemned the attack and expressed concern over the injuries sustained by the police officer.
Anwar said violence against law enforcement personnel responsible for protecting public safety was unacceptable and called for firm action against criminal activities, regardless of the identity or nationality of those responsible.
He also wished the injured officer a speedy recovery.
The Prime Minister subsequently reiterated the government’s support for security personnel taking firm action against criminal activities within the boundaries of existing laws.
The incident was also discussed at a Cabinet meeting on November 13.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail directed the Royal Malaysia Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the attack and ensure that appropriate action was taken in accordance with the law.
He stressed that the safety of the public and law enforcement personnel remained a government priority.
The Home Ministry also warned that foreign nationals living in Malaysia must respect the country’s laws and cooperate with law enforcement agencies. BERNAMA +1
Questions Surrounding Police Response
Beyond the immediate violence, the incident has also raised questions about the challenges emergency responders face when dealing with potentially dangerous situations involving individuals believed to be experiencing mental health difficulties.
According to Shazeli, the number of personnel present at the apartment and the limited space inside the residential property may have affected how officers responded when the suspect emerged.
He said investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including whether the environment and the presence of multiple emergency agencies influenced the officers’ ability to respond.
On questions about whether police standard operating procedures had been followed, the Selangor police chief explained that operational guidelines provide direction, but officers at the scene must assess the situation and determine the appropriate response based on the circumstances.
He also said police personnel receive regular refresher training rather than waiting for serious incidents before undergoing additional instruction.
The investigation is therefore expected to examine not only the suspect’s actions but also the operational circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
These questions are particularly important because police, firefighters and medical personnel frequently work together during emergency responses where public safety and the protection of first responders must be considered simultaneously. The Star
Why the Incident Matters
The incident has attracted attention beyond Malaysia because Nigerian nationals form part of the country’s foreign resident and migrant communities.
However, it is important to distinguish the reported nationality of the deceased from what Malaysian authorities have officially confirmed.
While Nigerian media outlets, including Punch, identified the deceased as Nigerian, Malaysian police and the national news agency Bernama initially described him as a foreign national. The latest police information available also referred to him as a foreign man, with investigations into his background continuing.
The distinction matters because accurate identification is essential in reporting incidents involving foreign nationals, particularly when the circumstances could influence public perceptions of entire communities.
The incident also highlights the risks faced by emergency personnel when responding to reports of violent or unpredictable behaviour.
The involvement of police officers, firefighters and health workers demonstrates the importance of coordinated emergency response systems and appropriate procedures for managing potentially dangerous situations.
At the same time, the reported mental health concerns surrounding the suspect underline the importance of establishing the circumstances behind violent incidents through proper investigation rather than relying on assumptions.
A suspected mental health condition should not automatically be treated as an established explanation for criminal or violent behaviour. Authorities must establish the relevant facts through appropriate investigations.
For Nigerians living in Malaysia and other countries, the incident is also a reminder of the importance of complying with immigration requirements and maintaining valid travel and residency documents.
What Happens Next?
Malaysian police are continuing investigations into the incident, including the suspect’s background, immigration circumstances and possible mental health difficulties.
More than 20 statements had been recorded as of November 13, according to the Selangor police chief.
Authorities are also expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the police operation and the decisions made during the confrontation.
Meanwhile, the injured officer remains under medical supervision following the successful reattachment of his right hand.
His ability to move several fingers represents encouraging progress, although his longer-term recovery remains subject to medical assessment.
The incident has resulted in the death of the suspect, serious injuries to a police officer and minor injuries to other emergency responders.
As investigations continue, further official information may clarify the suspect’s identity, the events leading up to the attack and the circumstances surrounding the police shooting.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Bernama – Policeman’s Wrist Severed in Attack by Foreign National in Kepong
- The Star Malaysia – Probe Ongoing into Mental State of Man Who Chopped Off Cop’s Hand
- Bernama – Policeman With Severed Hand Able to Move Fingers After Surgery
- Bernama – Anwar Backs Firm Action Against Criminals After Kepong Machete Attack
- RTM Malaysia – Home Ministry Orders Thorough Investigation into Kepong Attack
- Punch Newspapers – Nigerian Shot Dead in Malaysia After Chopping Off Cop’s Hand
