DUBAI – A Filipina domestic helper in Kuwait has been arrested for allegedly pledging allegiance to Islamic State and planning to launch an attack in the Gulf Arab state, official news agency KUNA reported on Friday.

The 32-year-old woman reportedly entered Kuwait in June as a housemaid, and has been in contact with IS’s affiliate in Libya, the interior ministry said in a statement published by KUNA.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said they are verifying the report, saying they have yet to receive information about the supposed arrest.

“I have to verify this first with our embassy in Kuwait,” Jose said in a text message to The STAR.

Security forces monitored one of the e-mail accounts run by the woman and reportedly found messages indicating she had contacted the Libyan militant group.

The Filipina reportedly used fake names and nicknames to evade monitoring, the ministry said.

“The accused confessed that she was ready to carry out any terrorist attack once circumstances and means were available to target a specific section of the society and undermine security and stability in Kuwait, as well as ignite sedition,” KUNA said.

The news agency published pictures of a veiled, middle-aged woman, dressed in an abaya, the traditional all-black gown that Muslim women wear in public in the Gulf, identifying her as the accused.

Last month, Kuwait foiled three planned IS attacks on the country, including a plot to blow up a Shi’ite mosque after launching raids that resulted in the arrest of militants.

A year ago, Kuwait, home to several US military bases, suffered its deadliest militant attack in decades when a Saudi suicide bomber blew himself up inside a packed Shi’ite mosque, killing 27 people.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack.

A US ally and neighbor of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Kuwait is part of a 34-nation alliance announced by Riyadh in December aimed at countering IS and al-Qaeda in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan. – Reuters, Rainier Allan Ronda