BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Brunei Internal Security Department, in cooperation with other intelligence and enforcement agencies, detained and deported four foreign nationals for their involvement in extremism and terrorism-linked activities, local media reported Friday, quoting a government statement.
The action is part of the continuous efforts of the government to ensure that the country is free from any threat against the peace, harmony and security of the nation, the department said in the statement.
Following an operation conducted in February 2017, four Indonesian nationals were detained under Brunei's Internal Security Act, and subsequently, all four were deported and blacklisted from reentering Brunei due to their predisposition towards the ideology of militant group -- Islamic State (IS).
Internal Security Department's investigations revealed that two of the suspects were in possession of propaganda materials related to IS and all four suspects admitted to downloading as well as sharing IS online videos and other materials available on the Internet.
Information received from intelligence sources has also revealed that one of the four was known to have been in direct contact with a suspected IS member based overseas, the statement said.
According to the statement, this recent development indicates the emergence of extremism and terrorism related elements in the country and highlights the need for the government and the public to exercise a high degree of caution considering that no country is immune to the perils of transnational security threats including Brunei Darussalam.
"His Majesty's Government would like to remind the public that any act of terrorism is detrimental to the security of Brunei Darussalam and is a serious offence under the Anti-Terrorism Order," the statement said.
"The Brunei Internal Security Department together with other intelligence and enforcement agencies will not hesitate to take strong and pre-emptive action against any individual or group found to be supporting, promoting or disseminating any militant ideology or propaganda which also includes act of providing and collecting funds for any individuals or groups that have links or suspected to have links with terrorism."
