Police Nab Boy for Inciting Violence Ahead of Bhayangkara Cup Final
Jakarta. Police have arrested a 13-year-old student for allegedly inciting football supporters through social media to commit acts of violence during the Bhayangkara Cup final in Jakarta this weekend, an official said on Saturday (02/04).
The boy, identified only as A.T.B., was arrested on Friday night in South Jakarta, after investigators discovered a post on his Facebook account urging fans of Persija from Jakarta to attack those of Persib from Bandung, West Java.
Persib will compete against Arema from Malang, East Java, at Gelora Bung Karno stadium on Sunday evening, but Persija fans, who have a long history of hostilities with Persib supporters, are also expected at the match.
"For all Jakmania [Persija fans], if there are people in vehicles with 'D' [number] plates [from Bandung] arriving in Jakarta, ask them to turn around. If they refuse to do so, throw stones at them straight away," Sr. Comr. Mujiyono of the Jakarta Police quoted A.T.B. as saying on his Facebook post.
Investigators are still questioning the junior high school student, who is accompanied by his parents, Mujiyono added.
"This will hopefully be the last incident. No more people who provoke and those who are provoked are needed," the police officer added.
In anticipation of likely clashes between the two groups of supporters, authorities will deploy a combined force consisting of more than 11,000 police officers, military personnel and members of the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) in and around the stadium in Central Jakarta.
Police officers from Bandung and Malang will also escort the supporters from their respective cities to Jakarta and back.
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