“According to our investigation, there is an allegation, I repeat, an allegation, that certain groups are seeking to incite unrest,” East Java Police Spokesperson Senior Commissioner Jules Abraham Abast said.
Of the 42 suspects, nine were identified by provincial police, while 33 were named by Surabaya city police.
Among the provincial cases, eight are minors and one is an adult. They are suspected of using Molotov cocktails in a premeditated attack on the Grahadi Building, a recognized cultural heritage site.
The building was attacked, looted, and set ablaze on Saturday (August 30), hours after East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa met with demonstrators outside.
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Witnesses said the fire broke out roughly 90 minutes after the meeting, as hundreds remained outside the building without police intervention.
Surabaya police also charged 33 suspects, including six minors, in connection with arson targeting the Grahadi Building, Tegalsari Police Office, 29 checkpoints, and other public facilities.
Police said nearly half of the 315 people arrested after the riots were children.
Authorities continue to investigate the involvement of splinter groups suspected of provoking the violence in Surabaya and other cities in East Java.
“We must distinguish between organized provocateurs and demonstrators who are lawfully voicing their concerns,” Abast said.
Police have also identified another group allegedly inciting unrest in the Kediri and Tulungagung districts, he added.
Officials have yet to confirm whether any of the arrested individuals are affiliated with known extremist or separatist movements.
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Translator: Willi I/Hanif N, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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