Disco brawl kills two, police name seven suspects

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two security guards at Stadium Discotheque in Taman Sari, West Jakarta, were killed and four others injured in a brawl between club employees and hoodlums on Tuesday at about 1 a.m.

Purwanto, 34, died from a gash to his head, while another guard, Munif, 42, died from a fractured skull.

Three other guards -- M. Sofian, Eka Rizal and Sukatanto -- and another club employee, Johan Eldik Purba, were also injured in the brawl. The four suffered stab wounds and were taken to Husada Hospital on Jl. Mangga Besar in Central Jakarta. Their wounds were not considered life-threatening.

Police arrested 21 people in connection with the brawl. Seven are being held at the Jakarta Police Headquarters, while the remaining 14 are detained by the West Jakarta Police.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo told the press on Tuesday the seven suspects being held at Jakarta Police Headquarters had been declared as the main suspects.

"Our officers have been questioning them to find out who killed the security guards," he said.

According to the police, Tuesday's brawl was sparked by an incident that took place on Sunday morning at the five-story discotheque, located in the entertainment district around Jl. Hayam Wuruk and Jl. Mangga Besar.

"One of the attackers visited the discotheque that night (Sunday) and had a quarrel with the guards. That ended in a fight," Prasetyo said.

The man returned to Stadium on Tuesday with about 50 friends in 10 rented public minivans. Most of the men were carrying knives and other sharp weapons.

The attackers targeted the discotheque's employees, particularly the security guards. After the attack, they immediately fled the scene.