Police’s tear gas main cause of death in Indonesia soccer stampede: investigators ‘had to resort to force to restore order’
A soccer fan was dead after police used tear gas to subdue an angry crowd of people trying to break into a stadium.
Aman Agustin, 23, died after police surrounded him. He had been trying to board a flight from Kupang, East Java, with his family.
The police chief there, Adjara Wibowo, said officers feared the fans and their supporters would start violence.
An investigation into Agustin’s death has begun.
A police spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said the crowd in central Jakarta had been in the stadium for a local league game between the Persipura Jayapura and Jakarta United.
Image: A football fan died after police used tear gas at a match at the National stadium in Jakarta on Tuesday
Police had received a report of a threat in the stadium but decided not to call for backup.
They moved in on fans after the game on Tuesday.
Mr Nugroho, who is investigating the case, said: “At the beginning, we deployed tear gas on the fans with the aim of removing them but without success.
“A riot broke out in the stadium, involving football fans and supporters of the Persipura Jayapura football club.
“After the game, officers from the National Police Agency and Jakarta police were assigned to find the suspect and prevent further violence.”
Image: Police have been using tear gas to disperse crowds at matches
He said there were about 3,000 supporters who had been inside the stadium when the police moved in.
Mr Nugroho said that before security services intervened, the crowd began throwing bottles at officers.
“When we were informed about it, we decided to use tear gas against them.
“We were ready to