Roy Adriansyah, Eka Jaya Saputra, Heru Yustanto, Jakarta – Jakarta police have detained 65 people suspected of being affiliated with anarchist groups ahead of a planned demonstration outside the parliament complex in Senayan on Thursday, as authorities stepped up security to prevent violence and disorder.
Police also seized dozens of weapons and other items they said could potentially be used to cause violence, start fires or disrupt public order.
Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesman Budi Hermanto said 63 of the 65 people were detained by the Criminal Investigation Directorate, while two were taken into custody by the Cyber Crime Directorate.
He said the operation was part of a preventive effort aimed at identifying and stopping potential security threats before the demonstration.
Police seized 39 bladed weapons, two airsoft guns, an airsoft-gun gas canister and 25 grams of metal pellets.
Officers also confiscated seven jerry cans containing gasoline and 201 glass bottles fitted with wicks. Eleven backpacks allegedly intended to carry the items were also seized.
Other items included three golf clubs, a loudspeaker, spray paint, banners and prescription medicines including tramadol and diazepam.
Criminal Investigation Director Iman Imanuddin said the 63 people detained by his unit were divided into two groups. Ten were classified as allegedly involved in financing the operation, while 53 were categorized as alleged participants or operatives.
Police said their monitoring had identified an alleged effort to exploit the planned demonstration outside parliament through coordinated messaging, fundraising, mobilization and preparations to provide equipment.
Investigators are still determining the individual roles of those detained, including allegations involving recruitment, financing, logistics, crowd mobilization and issuing instructions. Police are also tracing the source of funds allegedly used to purchase the seized items.
Iman said the preventive operation was intended to ensure that items that could be used to cause violence or fires did not reach the demonstration site.
Students, social media user detained ahead of Jakarta rally
Separately, a group of vocational high school students from Sukabumi, West Java, were stopped by authorities at Bogor railway station on Thursday morning as they were reportedly traveling to join the demonstration in Jakarta.
The students were taken to Bogor City Police headquarters for questioning, according to local authorities.
Police in Bekasi, West Java, also detained a 35-year-old man identified by his initials B, also known as T, over allegations that he had spread provocative content on social media related to the planned Jakarta demonstration.
The man was detained at his home in Sukaraya village, Karangbahagia district, on Wednesday night. Police also seized a mobile phone that they believe was used to create and distribute the posts.
Jakarta braces for protests
The arrests and detentions come as thousands of protesters are expected to gather around the parliament complex on Thursday.
The demonstration is being organized by several groups, including the Pati United Community Alliance (AMPB), which is demanding the passage of an asset-forfeiture bill and tougher penalties for corruption, including the death penalty.
Police have deployed 18,504 personnel across Jakarta to secure the parliament complex and other strategic locations.
The heightened security comes almost a year after demonstrations in Jakarta and several other Indonesian cities escalated into deadly unrest in August and September 2025.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/jakarta-police-detain-65-seize-weapons-and-gasoline-ahead-of-rall