JAKARTA, April 11 — An attempt by three Uzbek terrorism suspects to escape from an Indonesian detention centre left an immigration officer and one of the men dead, police said today, with the surviving suspects rearrested.
The men were originally arrested by Indonesian authorities earlier this month, alongside a fourth Uzbek suspect, for allegedly spreading terrorism propaganda online.
They were linked to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Katiba al Tawhid wal Jihad group, according to Indonesian police.
The three suspects fled from the North Jakarta Immigration detention centre early yesterday after attacking officers, including members of an anti-terrorism squad, with a knife that they stole from a pantry, said police spokesperson Aswin Siregar.
Police immediately launched a manhunt to hunt the men down, re-arresting two of them, Siregar added. One of the men drowned after jumping into a river, he said.
An immigration officer was killed and three others were severely wounded in the escape attempt, he said.
“They broke into the ceiling and went after the officers, who were eating their Ramadan pre-dawn meal and were preparing to perform prayers,” said Siregar.
“In the initial interrogation, we found that they planned an escape after being visited by Uzbek consular officers. They did not want to be deported because they were facing a heavy sentence (in Uzbekistan),” he added.
Uzbekistan’s embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
The central Asian country has implemented strict measures to combat armed groups and religious extremism, and has been accused of using excessive force — including torture and arbitrary detention — by human rights groups. — AFP
