Pickpockets shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): Taman Puring subprecinct police shot dead two alleged pickpockets near the busy Blok M bus terminal on Wednesday after the two suspects resisted arrest and even threatened to fight the officers, police reported on Thursday.

The two were seen threatening a female passenger on a public minibus with a knife.

Plainclothes officers stationed at the bus terminal fired warning shots but the two turned to the officers and pointed the knife at them, the report said.

Police then shot the men at least three times each.

One of the men has been identified as 21-year-old Yudi Ardiyanto, a resident of Kampung Kupang in Surabaya, East Java, while his friend is still unidentified, according to the report which was signed by chief of Taman Puring police subprecinct Adj. Comr. Turnagongo.

From the bodies of the two men, police officers confiscated a cellular phone and two knives. (emf)