The report said the suspects held regular meetings to watch and listen to video and audio materials that propagate ideas of Jihadism, or Islamic militancy, Xinhua news agency reported.

Among the 12 men, aged 26 to 52, are the chairman of the local neighborhood committee, a high school teacher, the mosque's deputy imam, an entrepreneur, and other local residents, according to the report.

A criminal case has been opened and an investigation is underway, it added.

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