Malaysian police arrest four over Muslim prayer hall attacks

Malaysian police said Saturday they had arrested four men in connection with arson attacks on two Muslim prayer halls amid a spate of assaults on places of worship that have escalated ethnic tensions.

The arrests follow the detention of 15 others for attacks on churches triggered by a court ruling that overturned a government ban on non-Muslims using the word "Allah" as a translation for "God".

Deputy police chief Ismail Omar told state news agency Bernama the four, aged between 16 and 28, were believed to be involved in the attacks Thursday on two Muslim prayer halls.