An Indonesian soldier early Tuesday shot five colleagues in the conflict-torn province of Aceh, leaving four dead and another injured.

First Lieu. Frederick Simorangkir is believed to suffer a severe depression that caused him to open fire at colleagues for unknown reasons, a military spokesman said in Aceh.

"The shooter is suffering from a severe mental depression. But the information is still too early," Lieu. Col. Asep Sapari was quoted by Detikcom online news service as saying.

He said the incident took place just before dawn Tuesday when a patrolling soldier heard a gunshot and found five soldiers already shot.

Asep said Frederick, who has been in Aceh for four months, was immediately put in custody. Frederick and all the victims are from the same unit.

The Indonesian government has since last May deployed more than 20,000 troops to Aceh to end the 26-year old rebellion by the separatist Free Aceh Movement.

Source: Xinhua