Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct 2: At least 129 people were killed and 180 injured overnight during rioting in Indonesia’s East Java province, Reuters reported, citing police. A clash broke out between supporters of Javanese clubs Arema and Persebaya Surabaya after the former lost a match in Malang Regency, East Java.
“In the incident, 129 people died, two of whom are police officers. 34 people died inside the stadium and the rest died in hospital,” East Java police chief Nico Afinta said in a statement on Sunday.
“It had gotten anarchic. They started attacking officers, they damaged cars. The crush occurred when fans fled for an exit gate,” he told Reuters.
According to the reports, the fight started when thousands of Arema fans rushed the pitch after their team lost. Supporters of the Arema team invaded the field and police had to fire tear gas, causing a storm and suffocation, East Java police chief Nico Afinta told reporters.
Video footage posted on social media showed people rushing onto the pitch at Malang Stadium and images of body bags. Meanwhile, Indonesian sports minister Zainudin Amali told Reuters that authorities were reassessing security at soccer matches and were considering banning spectators after the attack killed 127 people.
“The Indonesian top league BRI Liga 1 has suspended games for a week following the match that Persebaya won 3-2 and an investigation had been launched, ” said Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) in a statement.
