Jakarta. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has called on the public not to overreact to this week's incident involving an Islamic State flag tied to a fence at the Kebayoran Lama Police station in South Jakarta.

Tito said the flag does not necessarily represent IS.

"It is similar to IS. It is not necessarily [IS]. The text [on the flag] is a general phrase, only resembling that on the IS flag," Tito said in East Jakarta on Wednesday (05/07).

He added that it may be possible that someone other than a terrorist may have attached the flag to the fence.

"We have found several previous cases that were eventually traced back to irresponsible people playing pranks," Tito said.

The police's public relations unit has orders not to report similar incidents to prevent a public outcry.

"I have also instructed my personnel, not to reveal such incidents to the media. It could have been done by irresponsible people making fun," Tito said.

"If it turns out that terrorists had placed [the flag], it means we are following their lead. They want everyone to panic," he added.

A police officer found the flag on Tuesday morning after it was reportedly attached to the fence by an unknown person on a motorcycle, who drove off immediately afterwards.

The 100-centimeter by 50-centimeter black flag with white Arabic writing was accompanied by a plastic bottle containing a threatening message.

Watch Indonesia Highlights at 8 p.m. tonight on the Jakarta Globe News Channel for more.