Jakarta Demo Turns Violent: 322 Arrested, One Dead
Polda Metro Jaya has arrested at least 322 people in the unrest that occurred in Jakarta from Thursday evening (27/8/2026) until the early hours of Friday (28/8/2026). The hundreds of individuals remain in police custody while their respective roles are being investigated. Police also recorded one death as a result of the clashes that followed the demonstration at the DPR/MPR building.
Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stated that the hundreds of people arrested have been divided into several clusters. “162 of them are adults aged around 18 to 40 years old,” Budi said at Polda Metro Jaya, Jakarta, on Friday (28/8/2026). According to Budi, this first cluster is currently being handled by the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation.
The other cluster consists of 160 children aged between 12 and 19 years old. This cluster of minors is currently being handled by the Directorate of Women and Children Protection of Polda Metro Jaya.
“Up to now, all of them are still undergoing examination to determine their involvement and respective roles based on the facts and available evidence,” Budi said.
He confirmed that none of the 322 people arrested have been released so far, as the police need to complete the examination of each individual’s actions.
Budi also stated that during the arrests carried out from Thursday until Friday morning, police found a number of items used as evidence in the unrest. “Officers found sharp weapons including machetes, scissors, and knife sharpeners,” Budi said.
Other items used during the unrest included 10 iron pipes, catapults, 19 arrowheads, one iron chain, and four bamboo sticks.
Budi added that security personnel also secured one four-wheeled vehicle that was used to ram police officers while dispersing the rioting crowd. “There was one pick-up truck that deliberately attempted to ram officers during the security operation for the public assembly,” Budi said.
Budi further stated that Polda Metro Jaya’s investigation also recorded one fatality.