JAKARTA, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's counterterrorism squad Densus 88 has arrested eight suspected members of the homegrown extremist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), which is affiliated with the Islamic State group, in Central Sulawesi province, police said.
The arrests took place between 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday in Poso regency and Parigi Moutong regency, Densus 88 spokesperson Mayndra Eka Wardhana said in a statement.
He said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects have been involved in spreading terrorist propaganda online, including images, writings, and videos promoting radical ideologies, and were also suspected of involvement in other terrorist activities.
"The operation is part of ongoing efforts to prevent radicalism and safeguard national security," he said, adding that authorities are continuing to investigate the suspects.
JAD has been linked to several attacks across Indonesia, including the 2021 cathedral bombing in Makassar and the 2018 church bombings in East Java. The group was declared illegal in 2018. ■