Police capture 200 biker gang members in Tangerang

Sr. Comr. Rikwanto: Jakarta Police Spokesman. (Tribunnews.com)

Amid ongoing reports of biker gangs in the capital, joint patrols between the police and the military police captured 200 members of a motorcycle gang in Tangerang, Banten province.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said on Tuesday evening that the joint patrols had arrived in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang on Monday night when they spotted a mass number of bikers involved in an illegal bike race.

“Several of them were currently still in our custody because we found them carrying knives and machetes. They claimed that they brought the sharp weapon for self defense. We are still questioning them,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

A number of motorcycle-riding men have been alleged as perpetrators of the recent spate of violence across Jakarta.

The latest attack, in Central Jakarta, occurred early on Friday and claimed the life of one civilian, injuring several others.

The attack was the third recently, following similar incidents in Kemayoran and Sunter, North Jakarta. All incidents were reportedly related to the killing of Navy First Seaman Arifin Siri in Pademangan, North Jakarta, on March 31. (asa)