Officers being investigated after tragedy at Indonesian game

Photo taken on Oct. 3, 2022 shows a view of the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, where a postgame riot and subsequent stampede killed at least 125 people. Xinhua

Officers being investigated after deadly tear gas disaster at Indonesian soccer game

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 10/3/22

Police in Indonesia are investigating officers who fired tear gas into the crowd at a soccer game over the weekend, which led to a massive stampede that killed at least 125 fans, ESPN reported on Monday morning.

Police fired successive rounds of tear gas into a crowd at an Indonesian soccer game, setting off a stampede that killed 125 people, incl. 17 children.@Amnesty is asking Indonesia to try the officers for causing one of the world's deadliest disasters at a sports event. pic.twitter.com/vJF6UwLQPz
— AJ+ (@ajplus) October 3, 2022

National Police spokesperson Dedi Prasetyo said in a news conference that 18 officers are being investigated, ESPN said. The Associated Press has called the tragic incident "among the deadliest disasters ever at a sporting event."

Hundreds attended a vigil in the Indonesian capital Jakarta to lay flowers for the victims of a stampede at a soccer stadium that has killed 125 people and injured more than 320 after police used tear gas to quell a pitch invasion https://t.co/VxEptPFhFA pic.twitter.com/JWwBAIaV2L
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 3, 2022

According to the AP, the investigation is focused on crowd control measures taken at Kanjuruhan Stadium for the match between host Arema FC of East Java’s Malang city and Persebaya Surabaya.

Fans for the visiting team were already banned from attending the game because there is a history of violent outbreaks among fans. The violence began with fans began throwing bottles and other objects at players and officials on the pitch after the home team lost 3-2.

Witnesses said fans then flooded the pitch and also toppled police vehicles outside of the stadium. Officers responded by shooting tear gas into the crowd, which caused a massive panic. According to the New York Times, there were only two open exits from the stadium and many of the fatalities were caused by fans being trampled.

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