Belgian Syria fighter Jejoen knew James Foley

Jejoen Bontinck, the teenager who traveled from his home in Antwerp last year to fight alongside Syrian rebels, spent time in prison with James Foley, the American journalist who was beheaded last week by Jihadist militants of the Islamic State (IS). The news was reported VTM on Monday and confirmed by the federal prosecutor.

Jejoen, 17, was captured last year in northern Syria by militants of the IS because he wanted to return to Belgium. In November 2012, Foley was kidnapped in Taftanaz, in northern Syria, by the same IS group.

"Jejoen Bontinck was captured along with James Foley and John Cantlie, a British journalist," confirmed Jejoen’s lawyer, Kris Luyckx. "They were locked up together 24 hours a day.”

The lawyer also said that Jejoen was contacted by US security after his return. The federal prosecutor confirmed the news: "US security came to Brussels at least twice last year to talk with Jejoen," says Eric Van Der Sypt, spokesperson for the federal prosecutor.

Jejoen told his interrogators about Foley and Cantlie. He drew floor plans of the cell in Aleppo where they were detained.