FBR leader killed, police on alert

A leading member of the hardline Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) was beaten to death in the Pondok Aren district in South Tangerang in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Police said that some 50 unidentified motorcyclists approached one of FBR's organizational posts, where around ten FBR members were gathered.

The motorcyclists suddenly began attacking the FBR members, most of whom immediately fled for their lives.

An FBR leader by the name of Muhidin, however, stayed behind to try to ward off the attackers, which led to his death at the hands of the unidentified mob.

Following the attack, police have been on the lookout for suspects.

Tangerang City Police conducted a city raid which resulted in the arrest of three men armed with three machetes of different sizes.

The three are reportedly members of the Ciledug district branch of the Pancasila Youth (Pemuda Pancasila), a mass organization known to be rivals of the FBR.

The police, however, denied that the men were targeted due to their membership of the Pancasila Youth.

"I'm not arresting members of mass organizations. I'm merely watching out for people armed with sharp objects," Tangerang City Police chief Sr. Comr. Wahyu Widada said on Thursday, as quoted by tempo.co.

In addition to hunting for suspects, police have also been on the alert for potential outbreaks of further violence throughout the city.

They are focused in particular on the area bordering the Ciledug and Pondok Aren districts.

"We're focusing on the Ciledug-Pondok Aren border area. We're also monitoring pockets of the city where massed groups can gather," Wahyu said. (png/swd)