Indonesian Police Investigating Officers from Riot Where at Least 125 People Died

Indonesian police are investigating 18 officers for their roles in the riot that killed 125 people at a soccer match in Malang, East Java, according to Agoes Basoeki and Edna Tarigan of the Associated Press.

Fans of Arema FC flooded the field after the team's home loss to Persebaya Surabaya. Riots also occurred outside the stadium with cars set on fire. The AP noted the police's role in the tragedy:

"Most of the deaths occurred when riot police, trying to stop the violence, fired tear gas, including toward the spectator stands, triggering the disastrous crush of fans making a panicked, chaotic run for the exits. Most of the 125 people who died were trampled upon or suffocated."

National Police spokesperson Dedy Prasetyo said they are investigating the 18 officers who fired tear gas, questioning witnesses and analyzing security camera footage.

Malang police chief Ferli Hidayat and nine members of an elite police mobile brigade were removed, per Prasetyo (via the AP). All 10 could be dismissed in an ethics trial.

Witnesses said the police "beat them with sticks and shields before shooting canisters directly into the crowds," according to the AP.

"The chaos was on the field, but they fired the tear gas into the stadium stands," witness Dicky Kurniawan told Tarigan.

The 22-year-old was hospitalized and among the 323 estimated to be injured. Of the 125 killed, 17 were children.

There were about 42,000 fans at the match, all supporting the home team with Persebaya supporters banned because of the violent history of the rivalry.