DUBAI, UAE - Security forces in Najaf arrested a man who appeared in a video alongside others claiming to have formed a group called the “Army of Truth,” authorities said Sunday.

The man had said the group had 1,600 members and threatened to kill anyone who opposed them.

The arrest came after a video was widely shared over the past few days showing several masked men standing under the Mecca overpass in Najaf. 

In the video, one man claimed they had formed the “Army of Truth” to “defend the oppressed” and “take back rights from political parties and the state.” 

He also said the group had 1,600 members and threatened to kill anyone who stood in their way. 

The New Region confirmed with a security source in Najaf that the man who spoke in the video was arrested and is now under investigation.

“The man is currently being questioned to understand the details of what happened,” the source said. “Security teams are closely watching for any actions that could harm public safety or take advantage of the current situation for suspicious purposes.”

The man seen speaking in the video had a tattoo on his arm showing a swastika and other writings, according to the source.