Six Rizieq Shihab followers shot dead by Jakarta police

FPI lawyer, Sugito Atmo Prawiro, however, was quoted by local media as claiming that the victims were instead attacked and shot by the authorities, and not the other way around.

Metro Jaya police chief Fadil Imran was quoted by Antara news agency as saying that in the 12.30 am incident at Kilometre 50 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Highway, a group of the hardline cleric's followers had obstructed a police vehicle before attacking and firing shots.

"There were 10 people who carried out the attack, the police returned fire, six were killed while four others fled," he said. No further details, however, were given on the six shot dead.

Many parties in Indonesia, including political leaders, police, military and netizens and even prominent scholars in Indonesia, have been unhappy with the 55-year-old controversial FPI leader accused of often insulting and using offensive language in his series of talks against those who disagree with him.

Since returning from a three-year self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia, Rizieq Shihab, hailed as a grand ulama by his supporters, has held a series of gatherings that have drawn thousands of followers, causing concern among various parties at a time when Indonesia was battling high numbers of COVID-19 cases.

Since last week, police attempts to take him to the Jakarta police headquarters for questioning in connection with a large-scale rally involving him that did not comply with COVID-19 health protocols have been stopped by thousands of his followers camped at his home in Petamburan.