More cops killed in Tangerang

JAKARTA. Attacks on police officers are continuing in Greater Jakarta, with another two officers shot and killed by unidentified assailants late on Friday in Tangerang.

"The attack took place at 10 p.m. on Jl. Graha Raya, Pondok Aren, South Tangerang. The victims, who are officers at Pondok Aren police office, are identified as Second Brig. Maulana and Adj. Second Insp. Kus Hendratma," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said in a written statement early on Saturday to The Jakarta Post.

According to Rikwanto, two unidentified men riding a motorcycle approached Kus who was en route to Pondok Aren police office and shot him in the head.

He added that four Mobile Detective Unit (Buser) officers who were in a nearby car witnessed the shooting and pursued the perpetrators, hitting the latter’s motorcycle.

"Unfortunately, the car slipped into a street gutter. The perpetrators then approached the car and shot the driver [Maulana], killing him on the spot. The other officers exchanged gunfire with the perpetrators who fled the scene after making off with a resident's motorcycle," Rikwanto explained.

He added the police confiscated the perpetrators’ motorcycle, which had been left behind at the crime scene.

Rikwanto said the remains of the two victims had been taken to Kramat Jati Police General Hospital in East Jakarta for autopsies, while investigators were attempting to determine the motive behind the shootings.

The Friday shootings are the latest in a string of attacks on police officers in Greater Jakarta. Previously, a house in South Tangerang belonging to a detective with the city police's narcotics unit was shot at by an unidentified person on Aug. 13.

Within 10 days in late June to early July, two police officers were shot by unidentified men in Tangerang.

The violence has not only targeted police officers. Early morning on Aug. 9, two Transjakarta bus shelters in South and Central Jakarta were shot at – again by unidentified perpetrators. There were no casualties reported.

According to the National Police, 15 police officers were killed in suspected terror attacks in Central Java, Central Sulawesi and Papua last year. (The Jakarta Post)