Police Establish Team to Investigate May 22 Riot
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23 May 2019 21:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chief of the Indonesia National Police (Polri) Gen. Tito Karnavian, has established a team to investigate the May 22 riot. "The Police Chief has established an investigation team led by the Chief of General Surveillance Inspectorate of the National Police Comr. Gen. Moechgiyarto to discover the main reason and aspects [of the riot]," said Chief of Public Relations Division of the National Police Mohammad Iqbal on Thursday, May 23, 2019.
In the May 22, 2019 riot, eight people were reported dead. Iqbal said that the victims were the rioters. "Not street vendors or people who were praying," Iqbal said.
As an initial step to the investigation, the Police have identified two groups of rioters suspected to be the mastermind behind the incident. The first group is identified as GARIS, which is claimed to be affiliated with ISIS.
The Police have managed to arrest two members of the Garis group. "Based on information from the two suspects, they intend to commit jihad during the May 21-22 protest," Iqbal said.
Meanwhile, the second group was identified as the group who infiltrated the demonstration while carrying two firearms. However, Iqbal did not disclose the name of the second group.
The second group is said to make martyrs of any victims during the protest. "So if there are any victims, there would be public rage against security officers," Iqbal added.
ANDITA RAHMA
