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