Malaysian police say eight suspected militants, including seven foreigners, have been arrested for allegedly spreading religious extremism that could threaten national security and fan terrorism in the region, Associated Press reports. The police said that the arrests were part of an effort to stop the dissemination of Salafi jihadism ideology that has been a catalyst for terrorist groups such as the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiah, Abu Sayyaf, Boko Haram and others. Just last month, the local police  arrested 10 terror suspects, some of whom were planning to launch smoke bombs at “vice outlets” in Melaka and Penang. They had planned to team up with another terror group in a Middle Eastern country to launch attacks on a bordering nation, Channel News Asia reports, quoting the policy.