HOLIDAY TERROR WARNING: ‘High threat’ of attack at hotspot popular with British tourists

A HEIGHTENED terror alert has been issued to all Britons looking at booking a holiday retreat to a popular sunny tourist destination.

The Government has warned Britons against "all but essential" travel to key tourist destinations in Malaysia.

The Foreign Office ramped up the terrorism threat level from "general to high" yesterday following fears of an terror attack against Western tourists.

The statement revealed militant attacks would likely targets "places visited by foreigners".

Britons are advised against travelling to "all islands off the coast of eastern Sabah from Kudat to Tawau."

Officials also fear the threat of kidnapping in Eastern Malayisa, along the border with southern Philippines.

Around 435,500 British nationals visit Malaysia each year. 

The fear follows news that Islamic State (ISIS) have infiltrated the region and used the Malaysian resort of Sabah and nearby islands to kidnap foreigners.

The powerful local militant group Abu Sayyaf Group, based in southern Philippines, pledged its allegiance to ISIS in recent years.

The militant group has previously kidnapped several foreigners and last year murdered and beheaded a number of hostages. 

The Malaysian authorities have increased security in the region in response to these incidents.

In January 2016, the Malaysian police said the country was on the country's highest ever security alert.

Southeast Asia has already emerged as a key recruitment point for ISIS, with more than 500 Indonesians and dozens of Malaysians joining the group.

Malaysian counterterrorism officials have recently been warning that the terror group are indoctrinating and training children as young as two years old to become the next generation of terrorists either abroad or once they return to Malaysia. 

Earlier this year, two Malaysian suicide bombers who joined ISIS blew themselves up in Syria and Iraq, killing more than 30 others.

Also, in recent weeks, a 16-year old boy dressed in an outfit similar to the ones ISIS jihadis wear held a woman at knifepoint in the northern Malaysia.

Several deadly plots foiled by the authorities within the country last year raised concerns of lone-wolf attacks Malaysians make contact with terrorists abroad.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak used his New Year's address to warn the threat "must be taken seriously".

He said: “We will not wait for a terrorist outrage to take place before proactively putting in place all measures necessary to avert the possibility.

"As Prime Minister, I make no apology for placing the safety and security of all Malaysians as my foremost priority."