Malaysia launches armed airport patrols after shootout - AFP

Malaysian police have introduced armed patrols of the capital's main airport after a dramatic robbery that left five people injured in a hail of bullets, reports said Friday.

The robbers, who ambushed two money changers and their security guard outside the departure hall, escaped with more than a million dollars in cash in Wednesday's incident which highlighted Malaysia's rising crime rate.

Police chief Musa Hassan said armed personnel would patrol the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) departure and arrival halls around the clock.

"The move is to provide extra security at KLIA," he said according to the New Straits Times, adding that he had already proposed tighter security measures a month ago.

The daily said the shootout sent scores of people running for cover as more than 50 shots were fired, shattering large glass panels at the front of the building.

Separately, Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat said that three airport staff had been suspended over a security breach that saw a Bangladeshi man board a plane with a knife that he pulled out mid-flight, causing panic among passengers.

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