The West Java Regional Police have named 42 people as suspects in the demonstrations that ended in riots in Bandung City.
West Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Rudi Setiawan said the suspect determination was made after his team secured hundreds of people during a series of demonstrations that ended in riots due to the destruction and burning of a number of public facilities and government offices.
"This anarchistic act was premeditated, using Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs, and even social media as a means of provocation," Rudi said in Bandung on Tuesday.
The facilities that were targeted by anarchistic actions included the fence and police post in front of the West Java Governor's Office, the West Java DPRD Building, and the MPR RI Guesthouse in Bandung.
Of the total 42 suspects, 26 people were named by the West Java Regional Police's General Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) for direct involvement in the destruction and arson.
Meanwhile, the Cyber Crimes Directorate (Ditreskrimsiber) has named 16 other individuals for their role in spreading provocative content, incitement, and fake news on social media.
Rudi said that the police were still investigating the possibility of a network behind the action which ended in rioting.
"We have identified links to certain groups attempting to pit the public against the authorities. Law enforcement will be carried out professionally and transparently," he said.
