Jakarta. Protests over the death of 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a police armored vehicle in Jakarta, escalated into violent unrest across multiple cities on Friday night, with public facilities set ablaze and business districts brought to a standstill.

In Jakarta, demonstrations intensified outside the Jakarta Metro Police headquarters, prompting public transport operator MRT Jakarta to close several stations and passenger access points temporarily. Initially, only Istora Mandiri Station was closed due to its proximity to the protests, but the closure was soon extended to Senayan Mastercard Station and multiple other entrances, including at Bendungan Hilir, Setiabudi Astra, and Tatapuri stations. MRT officials urged commuters to adjust their travel plans.

Outside the Jakarta Police headquarters, student protesters ignited and launched fireworks toward the building and officers on duty. Initially directed skyward, the fireworks later targeted police shields and the facility itself, forcing authorities to reposition their lines and deploy armored vehicles and reinforcements to disperse the crowd. Flames also engulfed nearby infrastructure, including electric poles and CCTV cameras.

In Central Jakarta, demonstrators clashed with riot police outside the Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters. Tear gas intended to disperse the crowd instead inflamed tensions, as protesters torched a TransJakarta bus shelter in Senen and vandalized nearby shops.

“Yes, part of the Senen Toyota Rangga bus stop was set on fire by irresponsible individuals. Earlier, several other TransJakarta shelters also suffered vandalism and damage,” said Ayu Wardhani, head of public relations at TransJakarta. She condemned the destruction, stressing the importance of public facilities for daily commuters. Vehicles were also targeted, including a car, several motorcycles, and a building in front of Brimob headquarters that briefly caught fire before firefighters and military personnel extinguished it.

In East Jakarta, hundreds of protesters marched from Bidara Cina to Polsek Jatinegara, storming the precinct, damaging signage, and entering the compound. They burned a motorcycle and fired fireworks at the station. Police had largely evacuated the building prior to the attack. Security forces were later redeployed, with roads around Otto Iskandar Raya blocked, creating a tense standoff.

In Bandung, West Java, unrest escalated outside the provincial legislature (DPRD), where demonstrators hurled rocks, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails at police. Riot officers fired tear gas, sending protesters fleeing before regrouping and attempting to breach the gates. Protesters set fire to a luxury property owned by the national legislature (MPR) and damaged public infrastructure, including CCTV cameras, traffic signs, and cables. Shouts of “Revolution! Revolution! Police are killers!” echoed through the night.

Violence also spread to other cities: in Tegal, Central Java, demonstrators clashed with police, chanting “Police are killers!”; in Yogyakarta, crowds breached police barriers, torching an ATM and a vehicle; in Solo, rioters burned a bus stop, a traffic post, and a monument; in Surabaya, police outposts were toppled and set on fire; and in Makassar, South Sulawesi, mobs stormed the city council building, torching dozens of vehicles.

Amid the chaos, some communities opted for restraint. In Sumedang, West Java, a ride-hailing drivers’ association gathered with police and military officials for prayers at a mosque, calling for calm and peaceful dialogue.

Affan’s death on Thursday night, after a Brimob armored vehicle drove over him during clashes near Brimob headquarters, has become a rallying cry against police brutality. The police internal affairs division (Propam) confirmed seven Brimob officers were found guilty of breaching the force’s code of ethics and have been placed in special detention.

As midnight approached, unrest continued across parts of Jakarta and other cities, with police and military forces deployed around parliament, police headquarters, and government buildings.

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