KUWAIT: A judge on Sunday renewed the detention for two weeks of three Tunisians accused of being members of a cell of the Islamic State terrorist group who were plotting to carry out suicide attacks on Shiite worship places. The three men denied in court all the accusations, saying they came to Kuwait to work for a delivery group.

Kuwait’s secret service announced on Thursday it had busted an Islamic State cell, adding the trio were plotting attacks on Shiite mosques. The public prosecution on Saturday ordered their detention for 21 days pending further investigation and trial. It accused them of joining an outlawed group, plotting terrorist attacks in the country against places of worship of Shiites and carrying out surveillance of a number of such mosques. The public prosecution also said in a statement on Saturday that it ordered the detention of two Kuwaitis, accusing them of joining the Islamic State group. The two cells are not linked.

Meanwhile, Acting Interior Ministry Undersecretary Lt Gen Sheikh Salem Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah affirmed on Sunday, the necessity of dealing with all events and taking all measures to confront any violations against anyone who dares to tamper with the security, stability and safety of the country. This came in a press statement issued by the ministry during an inspection tour conducted by Sheikh Salem to the northern border center of Um Sedeira.

Sheikh Salem emphasized the importance of maintaining the highest levels of readiness, vigilance and constant preparedness for the ministry’s personnel stationed at the northern and southern borders of the country. He conveyed the regards and appreciation of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah for their great efforts and dedicated work carried out around the clock to preserve the security of the country and the safety of its borders.

Sheikh Salem explained that this role is not surprising for the personnel of the ministry of interior, who have dedicated themselves to serving Kuwait, confirming that the border security sector is the vigilant eye on the security of the nation. He praised the spirit of joint work of all those working at the border crossings and the supervisory role played by the ministry’s affiliates at all sites and in various specialties, expressing pride and appreciation, and calling for the continuation of work and the exertion of more effort and cooperation to accomplish all tasks with precision and mastery.

During the tour, Sheikh Salem received a detailed explanation from the Director of the Northern Borders Brig Faisal Al-Subaei about the security system in the northern borders. He also reviewed the tasks and workings of the center, the security system and the preparedness of the security force, as well as the technical and administrative equipment at the center.

Sheikh Salem earlier directed the widespread deployment of traffic patrols on all main and secondary roads and intersections during the morning period for smooth flow of traffic, calling to launch daily traffic campaigns and being firm in confronting any wrong behavior, monitoring recklessness and intensifying awareness campaigns to enhance security and traffic culture. – Agencies