Escaped Medan terrorists may be planning attacks

July 18, 2013
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JAKARTA, Indonesia – Officials have released the photos of four convicted terrorists still on the loose after escaping from a prison in Medan nearly a week ago, amid concerns the four will plan new attacks, local media reported.

The four terrorists – Fadli Sadama, Agus Sunyoto, Nibras alias Arab and Abdul Gani Siregar – are among the more than 200 prisoners who escaped the overcrowded prison in Medan last Thursday following a deadly riot.

"The four who escaped are dangerous. They can reconnect with their group and plan terrorist acts with other networks," National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Ansyaad Mbai told The Straits Times.

All four were part of a cell that robbed a CIMB Niaga Bank branch in Medan in August 2010 to fund terror activities. Officers from the elite counterterrorism unit Detachment 88 are involved in the search.

Malaysia has ramped up security along its borders in response to the jailbreak. Fadli, in particular, is considered extremely dangerous, given his broad networks with extremist groups in Malaysia and Thailand, The Jakarta Post said.

Terrorism analyst Mardigu Wowiek Prasantyo predicted the four "will take any chance they have to strike again" according to The Straits Times. "Their targets are national events and symbols, as they want to uphold their version of an Islamic state."

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