Gunmen kill policeman, kidnap another during attack on Malaysian diving resort

A policeman was killed and a second kidnapped after heavily armed gunmen opened fire at a Malaysian diving resort off Borneo island, a security official said yesterday.

The shooting on Mabul island is the latest in a spate of abductions in Malaysia's remote Sabah state, home to some of the world's top diving sites, with travel agents saying the violence has already hurt visits to the area.

A major hunt has been launched for the criminals believed to have come "from a neighbouring country", Abdul Rashid Harun, head of Sabah state eastern security zone, said.

One security official said the gunmen are believed to be from the Philippines' Sulu islands.

Describing the incident that happened late on Saturday, Abdul Rashid said a police outpost guarding a resort in Mabul island was ambushed by six to eight masked gunmen wearing black T-shirts and military trousers.

"The group of heavily armed gunmen shot and killed a 32-year-old policeman and kidnapped another officer. They escaped in a boat into neighbouring waters. We have launched a security operation to track down the criminals," he said.