Islamic State fighters are pictured after being arrested in Kabul during a special operation by the Afghan National Security forces, Sept. 18, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Afghanistan National Directorate of Security)
Dozens of Islamic State fighters have been arrested in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, ahead of a religious observance in the country, Afghan officials said Tuesday.
Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country's main intelligence agency, said in a statement Tuesday that its special operations forces arrested 26 IS fighters in different parts of Kabul.
"The group of fighters, led by Abdullah, was brought to Kabul to launch suicide attacks during the month of Muharram and on the day of Ashura (The death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussain)," the statement said.
"Afghan security forces identified and arrested the ferocious terrorists, and thwarted their lethal plans," the statement added.
In a video released by NDS, the IS fighters confessed they were members of the terror group and were planning to wage attacks in the city.