JIMBARAN, Bali – A pre-dawn gathering of young men allegedly drinking alcohol in South Bali turned violent over the weekend after they reportedly began throwing rocks at passing motorists, injuring at least one person and triggering a neighborhood manhunt that briefly resulted in innocent bystanders being detained by residents.
The incident unfolded around 4 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, near the Taman Griya intersection in Jimbaran, a busy residential area popular with both locals and long-term foreign residents.
Police say the suspected attackers remain at large.
Early-Morning Commute Turns Violent
According to Denpasar Police spokesperson Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, investigators believe the disturbance began when a group of youths gathered on the roadside to drink alcohol before allegedly targeting people passing through the area.
“The group is suspected of consuming alcoholic beverages before throwing rocks at people traveling toward the Taman Griya residential area,” Adi said on Monday.
One of the reported victims, identified only by his initials FS, told police he was riding home after spending the evening with friends when he suddenly came under attack.
A rock allegedly struck him in the head and face as he passed through the intersection.
Rather than confronting the attackers, FS sought safety and later reported seeing approximately six men fleeing the scene.
According to police, the suspects escaped by jumping over walls surrounding nearby buildings before disappearing into the surrounding neighborhood.
Residents Launch Their Own Search
After alerting friends, FS returned to the area and discovered that other people had also reportedly been targeted.
News of the attacks quickly spread through the neighborhood, prompting residents to organize an impromptu search for those responsible.
During the sweep, three men were detained by local residents.
Police later determined that the trio appeared to have no connection to one another and were likely mistaken for the attackers.
“Three people were detained by residents, but they did not know each other and are believed to have been mistakenly caught during the community search,” Adi said.
Investigators said one of the three had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening but was not believed to have participated in the rock-throwing incident. The other two had not been drinking and were also found to have no apparent involvement.
The actual suspects escaped before police arrived.
Investigation Continues
South Kuta Police detectives are continuing to investigate the incident and are working to identify those responsible.
Authorities have taken possession of several items believed to be connected to the investigation, including three motorcycles, vehicle registration documents, and a wallet containing identification belonging to one individual.
Police have not yet announced any arrests or disclosed whether the violence was random or directed at specific victims.
A Reminder for Visitors
While violent incidents of this nature remain relatively uncommon in Bali, the case serves as a reminder that travelers, particularly those returning late at night or in the early morning hours, should remain aware of their surroundings.
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to cooperate with investigators as the search continues.