T

hree cars and two motorcycles were destroyed in a violent altercation on Saturday between police officers and residents in Buol regency, Central Sulawesi.

Biau district head Arfan Korompot said the mood remained tense until 11 p.m.

'€œTwo motorcycles belonging to police officers were set on fire by residents and three minivans belonging to locals were damaged by police,'€ Arfan told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Separately, Buol Regent Amiruddin Rauf said the incident was triggered by aggrieved soccer supporters after their team, Persbul Buol, was defeated by Banyuwangi from East Java.

'€œThe situation is now under control,'€ Amiruddin said on Sunday.

He said that after the match the angry supporters ran amok and vandalized the facilities at Buol Stadium.

Police officers guarding the match tried to disperse the angry crowd.

'€œOne of the supporters fell over, which triggered the people around him to start attacking police officers,'€ he said.

Residents and supporters then began to hurl Molotov cocktails at the Biau Police precinct.

Police responded by shooting rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd.

Amiruddin revealed that one resident was injured during the incident.

Meanwhile, Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ferdinand Maksi who claimed to have been injured slightly by stones thrown by the rioters, confirmed that the situation was now under control.

Buol, which is 12 hours by car north of Palu, the capital city of Central Sulawesi, is no stranger to riotous behavior.

Four years ago, police officers fatally shot seven residents and injuring dozens of others in a riot, which was triggered by the death of a detainee while in the custody of the Biau Police.