200 inmates escape in Indo prison riot during blackout

Terrorists among more than 200 prisoners who escaped during deadly Indonesian jail riot
By Indonesia correspondent George Roberts, wires
Updated Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:52pm AEST

The prisoners fled after a fire broke out inside the prison
PHOTO: The prisoners fled after a fire broke out inside the prison (AFP: Kharisma Tarigan)
MAP: Indonesia
Convicted terrorists are among the more than 200 prisoners who escaped from an Indonesian jail during a deadly riot last night.

Three prison officers and two inmates died in the riot at the Tanjung Gusta prison.

It is understood the riot broke out after power was cut to building, leaving about 2,600 inmates without running water or electricity.

AUDIO: Listen to George Roberts's report (PM)
Indonesia's minister for security and political affairs, Djoko Suyanto, says nine convicted terrorists were among the escapees.

Four of the terrorists have since been recaptured, but the other five are still on the run.

Earlier, Indonesian police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said 15 of the prisoners who escaped were believed to be terrorists with links to Toni Togar, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence in a separate prison for a series of church bombings in Sumatra in 2000, the Jakarta Post reported on Friday.

Soldiers and police officers in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, have yet to track down many of the escapees.

"Chaos occurred because the water and electricity were off since 5:00am, and by 5:30pm the prisoners protested and broke through the main door," Mr Amar said.

The Medan prison held more than 2,500 inmates, the newspaper said, citing Justice Minister Denny Indrayana.

That would put the prison population nearly 150 per cent above its capacity of 1,054.

Will they swim over here like Mas Selamat ???  

Uncle Lau wrote:

Will they swim over here like Mas Selamat ???  

Please don't give suggestion where they can swim to....  

Uncle Lau wrote:

Will they swim over here like Mas Selamat ???  

Depends on direction of currents and how many strokes they take Loh

U play links courses right ul? Keep a look out when u go near the water .. They might suddenly jump up to grab u.. Change themselves into the identity of ul and rule the forum