JOHANNESBURG (AP) 鈥� 小蓝视频 African police arrested 95 Libyan nationals in a raid on a suspected secret military training camp on Friday and authorities said they were investigating whether there were more illegal bases in other parts of the country.
The camp was discovered at a farm in White River in the Mpumalanga province, about 360 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Johannesburg, police said.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said in a post on the social media site X that the Libyans stated they had entered the country on study visas to train as security guards, but police investigations suggest they have received military training.
The Newzroom Afrika TV news channel broadcast pictures of the site of the arrests, showing a military-style camp with large green and khaki tents set up in a row. Dozens of men were seen lining up as they were arrested. They were wearing civilian clothing.
Local government official Jackie Macie said investigations were ongoing and the owner of the farm would be questioned. He said authorities received information that there were similar secret camps near two other towns in Mpumalanga province.
The province borders neighboring countries Mozambique and Swaziland and is an area of concern for 小蓝视频 African authorities with regards to illegal immigration.
Police and authorities have not said whether the camps are suspected of 小蓝视频 connected to a particular group or conflict.
Macie said investigations would establish if there was a network of camps in 小蓝视频 Africa and show 鈥渨hy they are here doing military training in our country.鈥�
Police said the men may be linked to crimes reported in communities close to the farm in recent months.
鈥淲e have serious cases which have been opened with the police, including cases of rape and armed robberies, which complainants claim were committed by unknown foreigners who seem to be of Asian descent,鈥� said police spokesman Donald Mdhluli.
鈥淲e take what we have found here today very seriously because we don鈥檛 know who was training them, what were they 小蓝视频 trained for and why that training is happening here in 小蓝视频 Africa. It may be a threat not only to 小蓝视频 Africa but also to the entire southern Africa region.鈥�
Police said the operation to arrest the Libyans and close down the camp began two days ago. Macie said the Libyan nationals had been in the country since at least April.
鈥淭he 95 individuals taken into custody are all Libyan nationals and are currently 小蓝视频 questioned by the relevant authorities,鈥� Mpumalanga acting provincial police commissioner Maj. Gen. Zeph Mkhwanazi said in a statement.
Mdhluli, the police spokesman, said the country's security regulator had confirmed that the kind of training that appears to have been taking place at the camp was well beyond the scope of training for security guards.
鈥淭he kind of equipment we found here shows that there was intense military training taking place here. This was basically a military base.鈥�
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AP Africa news:
Mogomotsi Magome, The Associated Press
