Fire at Indonesian parliament kills three as nationwide protests intensify

At least three people have lost their lives, and five others were injured after a blaze engulfed a regional parliament building in eastern Indonesia, with officials blaming protesters for the fire.

The incident unfolded Friday evening in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, about 1,600km from Jakarta, as demonstrations spread across the country.

Indonesia’s disaster management agency confirmed the casualties on Saturday.

“From last night’s incident, three people died. Two died at the scene, and one died at the hospital. They were trapped in the burning building,” Makassar city council secretary Rahmat Mappatoba told Agence France-Presse (AFP). He accused demonstrators of storming the parliament office and deliberately setting it on fire.

Local media, including the state-run Antara news agency, reported that victims were trapped inside when the flames broke out, while officials noted that two people were injured after leaping from the building to escape. Those wounded are receiving treatment in hospital. Authorities said the fire has since been extinguished.

The unrest erupted following outrage over video footage showing a motorcycle delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan, being run over and killed by a police tactical vehicle during a protest earlier in the week. The incident has fueled anger over low wages and allegations of excessive perks for public officials.

In West Java’s Bandung, protesters torched commercial sites, including a bank and a restaurant. In the capital Jakarta, hundreds gathered outside the headquarters of the elite Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), the paramilitary police force accused of involvement in the driver’s death. Demonstrators hurled stones and firecrackers, while police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds. Some protesters attempted to dismantle the compound’s gates.

Police have announced that seven officers have been detained for questioning. Meanwhile, local outlet Tempo reported that over 200 protesters have been injured amid the escalating violence.

“This is different than other recent protests,” journalist Juan Robin of Narasi told Al Jazeera, describing the demonstrations as more intense and widespread. He noted that tear gas was used repeatedly throughout Jakarta on Friday. “At least seven bus stops in Jakarta were burned down, but it is not clear who did it,” he added, suggesting that provocateurs may have been responsible for some of the destruction.

Although the immediate clashes appear to be easing, Robin warned that broader unrest is likely to continue until protesters’ demands are addressed.

The turmoil presents one of the gravest challenges yet for President Prabowo Subianto, less than a year into his administration. The president has called for calm, ordered an investigation into the police killing, and visited the family of Kurniawan. He also condemned the unrest, warning that protests “were leading to anarchic actions.”

Public transit in Jakarta has been affected, with the city’s metro system bypassing one central station and bus services temporarily suspended in protest-hit areas.