16 Young Men Arrested in Surabaya Whilst Planning Gang Fight Armed with Sharp Weapons

Police have thwarted a gang fight that risked triggering violent clashes in Surabaya, East Java. A total of 16 young men were apprehended after being discovered preparing for a gang confrontation, with some carrying sharp weapons.

Erika Purwana Putra, Chief of Patrol Operations at Surabaya Metropolitan Police, stated that the young men were apprehended during routine patrols over the past week at several high-risk locations.

“In total, 16 people were apprehended from three main locations: Banyu Urip, Tambaksari, and Simokerto,” Erika said in a statement on Saturday (28 February 2026).

Erika explained that the suspects apprehended over the past week faced not only minor criminal charges but also prosecution under Law Number 12 of 1951 regarding sharp weapons.

“At Banyu Urip in Sawahan District, nine people were arrested, with one being prosecuted under the Emergency Law and eight categorised as followers. Then in Tambaksari, five people were arrested on Kenjeran and Bogen streets, and in Simokerto, two people were arrested,” she said.

She noted that those apprehended and facing criminal prosecution were individuals found carrying both sharp and blunt weapons, including sickles, iron bars, and modified pipes.