Terrorist inmates at the Mako Brimob Detention Center Salemba Branch, Central Jakarta, rioted in their cells on Friday (11/10/2017).

A number of videos and photos of the riots went viral on social media. A number of accounts spreading the video on social media said the riots occurred because officers threw the Koran.

However, the Head of the Public Information Section (Kabagpenum) of the National Police, Comr. Martinus Sitompul, emphasized that the throwing of the Koran by the prison guard was not true or a hoax.


Martinus explained that what happened was that the guard checked a number of books and objects in the detention cell.

The riots that occurred on Friday afternoon were triggered by the terrorist prisoners, who did not accept the search.

"The turmoil that occurred was a reaction to the actions taken by guard officers who confiscated cell phones belonging to Block C detainees," he said.

During the search, four cell phones belonging to four terrorist convicts were found, namely Juhanda, Saulihun, Khairul Anam and Jumali.

A number of angry Block B and Block C inmates then broke the cell door.

Not only that, a number of facilities at the Salemba detention center were also damaged, including the gates of Block B and Block C hallways and their windows.

Head of the Public Information Bureau (Karopenmas) Brigadier General Rikwanto said the riot started after Friday prayers in congregation.

After the prayer, the prisoners were put into their respective cells. After entering the cell, the picket officer who is a member of Densus 88 removed the keys in Rooms A5 and C5.

"The key was removed because there was a key slot from the inside, for security and to make it easier for the picket officers to open the cell door," said Rikwanto.

At that time, a search was also carried out in the two detention rooms, and four cell phones belonging to four terrorist prisoners were found.

"During the search, one of the detainees did not accept it and provoked the officers with various words," he said.

Then, one of the picket officers was provoked by the words of the inmate and fired a bullet up to warn other officers of a commotion.

Rikwanto, the riot did not last long because it was quickly resolved.