The massive rally against Jakarta's Chinese Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, which temporarily crippled the city, turned violent late on Friday night with gangs of jihadists torching police vehicles and attacking officers.
The violence took place just at a stone's throw away from the presidential palace and city hall. The hardliners clashed with the police force and hurled bottles and rocks at officers, injuring several people. Police retaliated by firing tear gas, water cannon and truncheons into thousands of rioting protesters to bring the situation under control.
President Joko Widodo vehemently condemned the riot and urged protesters to return to their homes. Moreover, he also cancelled visit to Australia.
Not only Jakarta, other cities of Indonesia, including Medan on Sumatra, Makassar in Sulawesi and Malang in East Java, held protests in solidarity with the rally organised by the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).
IBT Singapore brings to you some nerve wrecking photos of the protest:
