Twelve people have been arrested in Indonesia after allegedly looting two fire-ravaged warehouses in Kota Bengkulu, even as the premises were cordoned off with police tape.
The incident sparked public outrage after a video circulated on social media showing several individuals entering the burnt premises along Jalan Bumi Ayu Raya and allegedly removing goods.
The person recording the incident could be heard confronting the group and warning that the footage would be handed over to the authorities.
According to local media reports, the fire broke out at two warehouses storing snacks and flour on Thursday night, with firefighting operations continuing into the early hours of Friday.
Following the circulation of the video, police arrested 12 suspects at around 4pm local time on Friday.
Selebar Sector Police Chief AKP Bayu Heri Purwono said those detained came from various backgrounds, including housewives, daily wage workers, students and minors.
Police also seized hundreds of packets of snacks believed to have been taken from the warehouses.
All those detained reportedly apologised after being brought to the police station, but investigations are continuing to establish each individual’s involvement.
The fire had also claimed the life of a warehouse manager identified as Febriansyah, whose body was found near a staircase inside one of the buildings.
His body was discovered during a follow-up inspection on Friday morning after firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control at around 3am local time.
The cause of the fire and the total losses remain under investigation.
