An unidentified group threw bottles and stones at police officers near the Arjuna Wiwaha Monument, also known as the Horse Statue, in Central Jakarta, just as protesters from the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), the National Movement to Safeguard Fatwas (GNPF) and the 212 Alumni Brotherhood started to disperse.

At 3:45 p.m., the protesters, mostly dressed in white and wearing caps, began to leave the location and Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Heru Novianto appealed to the crowd to remain calm while leaving.

“This is a peaceful protest. Now the rally is over, let’s return home peacefully. FPI group, please keep the situation [under control] and do not riot,” Heru addressed the crowd.

However, a group of people without any form of identification refused to leave the area. Clashes erupted when the mob reportedly started to hurl bottles and stones at the police barricades, which the police countered with tear gas fired near the Horse Statue.

Clashes also erupted in the nearby Tugu Tani area, also in Central Jakarta, at 5 p.m., where rioters set alight various items in the middle of the road, kompas.com reported.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Nana Sudjana said police had apprehended around 500 people who had allegedly incited the protesters to start the clashes. He said he suspected they had infiltrated the crowd to instigate riots by throwing missiles at police personnel.

Popular

Why EV makers choose Vietnam, not nickel-rich Indonesia

Govt banks on Rp 500t inflows to international financial center

When prosecutors become prosecuted