Mob torches Sawahlunto Traffic Police office

Dozens of angry people set fire to a traffic police office in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, in retaliation over what they said was police violence and abuse of a high school student in the area.

“We were angry when we heard that a traffic police officer beat up a student,” one of the arsonists said Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

The entire building was burnt to ashes, including several vehicles. No members of the public reported seeing the fire brigade attempting to assist in efforts to extinguish the blaze.

The mob dispersed when they were met by a group of riot police from Sawahlunto Police.