A US missionary has been detained in Colombia for alleged collaboration with the country’s main leftist rebel group. the FARC.
Police say 59-year old Minnesota native Martin Stendal surrendered Wednesday night.
Police Colonel Flavio Meza said Thursday that officials had issued a warrant for Stendal’s arrest on charges of supporting terrorism and collaborating with the rebels.
Police say Stendal, who lives in Colombia, had traveled to Cuba and Panama as a messenger for the guerrillas.
Stendal said in a video posted online that someone laid a trap for him, that his trips into rebel territory to distribute bibles and radios were for ministering.
Since 2012, the peasant-based FARC has been in peace talks in Havana aimed at ending a half-century-old conflict.