"Firm action was taken against the group of MRS (Muhammad Rizieq Shihab) that launched an attack on officers, and as many as six people died," Imran notified the press at the Jakarta Police Headquarters here on Monday.
The incident took place on Monday at 00:30 a.m. local time on the Jakarta-Cikampek KM 50 Toll Road, he remarked.
The incident occurred when officers were probing information on a likely mobilization of masses for which Rizieq Shihab would be grilled by the Jakarta Police.
The Jakarta Police summoned Shihab for violating the COVID-19 health protocols during his daughter's wedding that coincided with the maulid (the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad commemoration), thereby leading to crowding.
"When officers of the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police followed vehicles suspected of carrying MRS followers, the officers' vehicle was intercepted and then attacked with firearms and sharp weapons," Imran noted.
The Jakarta Police chief confirmed that of the total 10 attackers, six were neutralized, while four fled.
No casualties or injuries were reported from the police side, though their vehicle incurred damage after the shooting and collision by the attackers’ vehicle and shot at, he revealed.
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The police are yet investigating the case and on the lookout for the four other perpetrators.
However, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), founded by Shihab, dismissed claims of its members having attacked police officers on grounds that they were unarmed. "FPI members do not have firearms. A shootout is impossible," Munarman, the general secretary of FPI, noted.
The FPI members in four cars were guarding Shihab, who was in another car along with his wife, daughter, and grandchildren, en route to a family's Quran recital event when the incident, involving plain-clothed officers, occurred, Munarman stated.
Meanwhile, a viral press release of the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) appealed to the government to form an independent fact-finding team to investigate the incident that resulted in the killings of six civilians.
Owing to major discrepancy in the information from the police and FPI, an independent fact-finding team should be set up to investigate the incident, Neta S. Pane, the IPW chairman, noted in the statement. (INE)
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Translator: Fianda SR, Fardah
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
