Reasons Why Rioters Damaged CCTV Following Protests Near DPR Building on 27 August Revealed
Police have disclosed the motives behind the destruction of CCTV cameras during the protests near the DPR/MPR building on 27 August 2026. It is suspected that the cameras were damaged to eliminate video recordings that could serve as evidence of the riots.
“Regarding why the CCTV was damaged and what the motive was: preliminary investigations suggest they understood that many streets and locations in Jakarta are monitored by CCTV or surveillance cameras,” said the Head of Criminal Investigation of the Metro Jaya Regional Police, Kombes Iman Imanuddin, on Wednesday (2/9/2026).
The perpetrators aimed to obstruct the police investigation process regarding the unrest that occurred following the expression of opinions on Thursday (27/8).
“Consequently, they attempted to hinder the investigation process regarding these unlawful acts by trying to damage or eliminate clues or evidence that we could obtain,” he stated.
Iman noted that the suspects intended to destroy or remove video evidence that could be used to investigate the case. The police emphasised that the CCTV was not damaged by the demonstrators themselves, but by another group that arrived near the DPR/MPR building to instigate riots.
“It was not the protesters, because the demonstration and the public expression of opinions should have concluded. Then, suddenly, an unidentified group appeared, not to convey aspirations, but to immediately engage in destruction; therefore, this was a group of rioters,” he said.
Three CCTV Destroyers Arrested
Previously, police have continued their investigation into the unrest following the protests on 27 August 2026, in Jakarta. Three individuals have been arrested by the police for the alleged destruction of public facilities, specifically CCTV cameras.
“From the series of actions carried out by the Ditreskrimum of the Metro Jaya Regional Police against the perpetrators of the destruction of Jakarta Provincial Government monitoring facilities: the latest development is that three more people were secured by Ditreskrimum starting from last night and this morning,” said the Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Regional Police, Kombess Budi Hermanto.
Investigators have conducted examinations and further inquiries into the three arrested individuals. All three were found to have played a role in damaging the CCTV cameras located around the MPR/DPR RI building.
“Based on the investigation, the three newly detained individuals played a role in the destruction that occurred in front of the MPR/DPR RI building,” he explained.
“Investigators are still conducting further inquiries, and we will certainly continue to provide updates to the media and the public,” Budi added.