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U.S. tightens Afghan prison security
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-02 19:43
In 1995, he was sent to the Philippines, originally to enroll in a flight
school so he could become proficient enough to commandeer a passenger plane on a
suicide mission. He failed to gain entry and instead went to a camp in the
traditional Muslim homeland of Mindanao, where he trained in jungle warfare
tactics along with other Jemaah Islamiyah trainees, the book says.
From there, Al-Farouq traveled by sea to neighboring Indonesia, where in 2000
he set up training camps for radicals engaged in sectarian clashes with the
nation's Christian minority. He was also reported to be planning a series of
attacks on U.S. embassies and other Western interests throughout Southeast Asia,
the book says.
In 2002, al-Farouq was captured in a town south of Jakarta. Indonesian
security officials turned him over to the United States and he was eventually
transferred to Bagram.
Yuri Thamrin, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said he had heard
nothing about al-Farouq's escape, but conceded that Washington may have directly
informed security officials in Jakarta.
"We have to check and make sure whether the U.S. has given the information to
Indonesia or not," Thamrin said.
Military officials have declined to elaborate on how the men escaped from the
heavily fortified jail, the only detainees they say have managed to do so. But a
spokesman said Wednesday that an investigation into the breakout had turned up
weaknesses in security and that these have been corrected.
"Physical security upgrades include improvements to an external door and
holding cells," Lt. Col. Jerry O'Hara said, reading from a statement.
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