The riot at the Mobile Brigade Command Detention Center (Mako Brimob) in Depok, just outside of Jakarta, that began yesterday evening is still at a standoff as of the time of writing, with officials now confirming reports that 5 police officers and one inmate have been killed in the violence and that one police officer is still being held hostage by prisoners.
“One of our colleagues is still inside being held hostage,” National Police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said this afternoon as quoted by CNN Indonesia.
Despite the situation, Iqbal asserted that police were in full control of the situation and that negotiations were still being carried out in order to save the captive officer.
Police have closed roads within a large area around the detention center in order to secure the area, preventing the public and media from getting too close. However, there had already been reports that six body bags were seen being removed from the facility.
Iqbal also confirmed reports that the riot involved gun battles between officers and prisoners, although he did not explain how the inmates had gotten their hands on firearms.
Earlier in the day, Jakarta Police spokesperson Argo Yuwono told the media that the riot had started at around 7:30pm yesterday evening after a dispute involving a prisoner asking an officer for the food his family had sent to him. When he was told the food was being held by another officer, it led the prisoner to agitate other inmates into protesting, leading to other inmates breaking cell doors and causing chaos in Blocks B and C of the detention center.
Mako Brimob in Depok holds a number of prisoners charged with terrorist activities and related crimes, including firebrand cleric Aman Abdurrahman, who was arrested for allegedly inciting others to commit terrorist attacks including the 2016 attack in Thamrin, Central Jakarta, that left four dead.
Islamic State, via its Amaq News Agency, claimed that the terrorist group’s fighters “have engaged in a clash with Indonesian anti-terrorism police inside a prison in Jakarta” in a message sent out via the Telegram app that was translated from Arabic and picked up by the Site Intelligence Group. Aman Abdurrahman has been alleged to have ISIS affiliations.
The most famous occupant of Mako Brimob in Depok is former Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who is currently serving his 2-year sentence for blasphemy at the maximum security detention center.
Many have been concerned for Ahok’s safety after news of the riot first broke. but his sister and attorney, Fifi Lety Tjahaja Purnama, told the public via an Instagram comment that she believed her brother was safe and under God’s protection.
The comment was on a post to commemorate the one year that had passed since Ahok was first imprisoned after being found guilty at the end of his controversial blasphemy trial. The former Jakarta governor was originally going to be sent to Cipinang Prison but was moved to Mako Brimob due to security concerns.
