TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Police question alleged escapee of C. Java terrorist camp

Police are questioning a man who claimed to have escaped from a terrorist camp in Salatiga, Central Java

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, April 27, 2017

Share This Article

Change Size

Police question alleged escapee of C. Java terrorist camp Under investigation – Personnel of the National Police’s Densus 88 counterterrorism squad search the boarding house of a suspected terrorist in Kampung Keputren, Kartasura, Sukoharjo, Central Java, on Monday. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

Police are questioning a man who claimed to have escaped from a terrorist camp in Salatiga, Central Java.

The man, identified as Yonas Prayoga, turned up at the West Jakarta Police precinct on Wednesday night, claiming he had been abducted by a group of terrorists.

“As of last night, he [Yonas] is still being questioned by our investigators,” said West Jakarta Police spokesman Comr. Purnomo on Thursday. “The man seemed dazed, so at the moment, we still cannot confirm anything he has said.”

Yonas, 26, told police that he was stopped by four men in a car on April 18.

The abductors first approached Yonas asking for direction, then convinced him to get into their vehicle. He was later drugged and his head was covered. When he regained consciousness, the four men took him deep into the forest. Before disappearing into the trees, Yonas said he spotted a road sign that read “Salatiga.”

(Read also: Densus 88 arrests 7 suspected terrorists for bomb plan)

According to his testimony, the camp was filled with some 80 people, most of whom were women. The camp’s inhabitants were trained to use firearms and make bombs by about 20 instructors. They were also indoctrinated by hate speech against certain groups.

Yonas said he made his escape when one of the inhabitants took him to a bus station. He got off the bus in West Jakarta, then went straight to the West Jakarta Police station.

The National Police has sent officers from counterterrorism squad Densus 88 to help with the investigation, he said. (dea)

 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.