JAKARTA, May 7 — Indonesian police have arrested eight individuals suspected of being members of a Daesh-linked militant group in Central Sulawesi, local media reported.

National Police spokesperson Mayndra Eka Wardhana said the suspects were believed to be affiliated with Jamaah Anshoru Daulah (JAD), a local extremist network linked to Daesh.

He said the arrests were made at about 1.30am local time on Wednesday in Parigi Moutong and Poso districts as part of coordinated counterterrorism operations in Central Sulawesi, and included Tomoli Utara village in the Toribulu subdistrict.

“Police investigations indicate the suspects were allegedly involved in spreading extremist propaganda through various online platforms,” he said according to Antara News Agency on Thursday.

Wardhana said authorities were continuing investigations to determine the extent of the suspects’ involvement in militant activities and possible links to broader extremist networks.

He said the operations were part of ongoing efforts to prevent radicalisation and maintain national security. — Bernama