Police Hunt Intellectual Masterminds Behind 27 August Jakarta Riots
Police are still investigating the riots that took’place around the DPR building and several areas in Jakarta on 27 August 2026. Currently, the intellectual actors behind the riots are also being pursued.
“We remain committed to investigating the intellectual actors, as well as the organisers and the financiers behind the riots that were caused,” said the Director of Criminal Investigation of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Kombes Iman Imanuddin, on Wednesday (2/9/2026).
Iman stated that the masses involved in the riots were different from the peaceful protesters. He suspects that mobilisation was carried out against the crowd.
Consequently, investigations regarding the financiers and the parties responsible for mobilising the masses are currently underway.
“Although there appeared to be distributions [of goods/funds], we suspect there was mobilisation; therefore, we are conducting deep investigations into the intellectual actors, the suspected financiers, and the organisers of the rioting masses,” he said.
According to him, the pattern resembles organised riots that frequently occur. Iman also urged relevant parties to refrain from involving children.
“We urge all parties to stop the exploitation of children by involving them in unlawful activities for personal or group interests. Children should receive their rights to protection from dangerous situations,” he added.
49 Individuals Named Suspects
Previously, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police arrested 322 individuals related to the riots during the demonstrations on 27 August. Of those, 273 individuals have since been released.
“The other 273 people have been sent home,” said the Head of Public Relations of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Kombes Budi Hermanto, to journalists on Tuesday (1/9).
Budi explained that 49 of them have been named suspects. He noted that 44 suspects are being handled by the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, while five minors facing legal action are being handled by the PPA and PPO Directorates.
“Thus, the latest data used as a reference is 49 suspects out of the total 322 individuals detained,” he stated.
Most recently, during a press conference at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Headquarters on Wednesday (2/9/2026), the police also revealed three other perpetrators arrested in connection with the destruction of CCTV cameras. The three individuals were apprehended between Tuesday (1/9) night and Wednesday (2/9) early morning.