Three-Day Clashes in Tanah Abang, Throwing Firecrackers and Burning Fruit Carts

The Petamburan area in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, became the scene of clashes between youth groups over three consecutive days. The attacks, involving sharp weapons and firecrackers, even led to the burning of stalls and carts belonging to traders in the vicinity. An eyewitness at the location, Ilham (32), revealed that the confrontations between residents from RW 11 and RW 5 in Petamburan Kelurahan were not the first occurrence. The disturbances between the two youth groups reportedly began on Wednesday (15/4/2026) in the early hours, around 1:30 AM WIB. Police were said to have been on standby at the location since Friday morning (17/4/2026) until the afternoon to prevent further clashes. “That’s why the traders were on alert on Thursday and Friday. When the police left the location, it was right after Maghrib. That’s when it happened again on Friday night,” Ilham said. After the police departed, the clashes erupted again around 7:00 PM, causing the most severe impact, including the destruction of traders’ carts. This arson incident was initially triggered by mutual attacks using fireworks from both groups. However, tensions escalated, and the situation worsened, turning into an arson attack along Petamburan V Street, RT 18 RW 05, using Molotov cocktails. “They brought firecrackers, shooting them at us, and he set fire here, to the fruit trader’s stall. If I’m not mistaken, using a Molotov cocktail,” Ilham explained. As a result, the fire blazed intensely up to 15 metres high, nearly spreading to trees and residents’ homes, and firefighters eventually intervened to extinguish it. However, residents claimed not to know who first provoked or initiated the arson. The recurrence of these clashes over three consecutive days has also drawn attention from Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung.