DENPASAR, Bali — On an island that sells itself to the world as a place of ritual calm and tropical ease, the final hours of 2025 ended with a reminder of how fragile public order can be when noise, alcohol, and emotion collide.
In a crowded residential pocket of East Denpasar, a disagreement over New Year’s Eve fireworks escalated into a violent attack that left a 24-year-old university student hospitalized with serious stab wounds. The incident unfolded not in a nightclub or tourist district, but in a narrow neighborhood street where families were preparing to welcome the new year.
The victim, Kristianus Bayu A.P. Soares, a student from Timor-Leste, had been walking near a friend’s boarding house on Jalan Akasia XVI shortly before 7:30 p.m. when a small confrontation began to form. Residents said the spark was mundane: fireworks being set off repeatedly in front of a small roadside shop.
Concerned about the noise disturbing a sleeping child, the shop owner asked a group of teenagers to stop. The request was ignored. When more young men arrived on motorcycles and continued lighting firecrackers, tensions rose, voices followed, and what should have been a brief neighborhood correction became a public argument.
Witnesses say Kristianus, who had no prior involvement, was drawn into the confrontation as tempers flared. A brief scuffle followed. One of the men involved, identified by residents as Gung Kris, was known locally and believed to be affiliated with a youth organization. He reportedly issued a challenge before leaving the area with several companions.
For a moment, the street fell quiet.
Believing the incident had ended, Kristianus returned to his friend’s boarding house. What happened next transformed a street argument into a criminal case.
Not long afterward, a group of men arrived at the boarding house, knocked, and then forced their way inside. According to witness accounts, the attack was swift and brutal. Kristianus was beaten and struck with multiple objects, including metal implements and a sharp weapon described by police as resembling a spear.
Bleeding heavily, he fled into the street in an attempt to escape. The assault continued as he ran past nearby shops and a tattoo studio, before residents intervened and he was rushed to RSAD Hospital in Denpasar on a motorcycle.
Doctors later confirmed multiple deep injuries to his hands and arms, along with a stab wound to the upper abdomen. He remains under intensive care and is scheduled for surgery to address internal damage.
Police in East Denpasar have confirmed the incident and say the investigation remains ongoing. Several witnesses, including the victim’s roommate, have provided statements. Officers are examining whether a bladed weapon was used and are working to determine the roles of each individual involved.
East Denpasar Police Chief Kompol I Ketut Tomiyasa confirmed the incident, as quoted by Radar Bali, and urged the public to exercise restraint, particularly during year-end celebrations. “Moments meant for celebration can quickly turn dangerous when emotions are not kept in check,” he said, adding that the legal process is now underway to ensure the case is handled fairly and transparently.
For Bali, a province balancing rapid urban growth, dense housing, and a reputation as a global destination, the episode underscores a quieter challenge. While tourists gather on beaches and in resorts to count down the new year, many residents experience the holiday in tightly packed neighborhoods where small disturbances can escalate quickly.
As authorities continue their investigation, the incident stands as a sobering counterpoint to the island’s celebratory image — and a warning that public safety depends not only on policing, but on collective restraint in moments when celebration tips into chaos.
CCTV footage obtained by Hey Bali provides visual context to the incident, capturing moments before and after the attack as police continue their investigation.
Video CCTV shows how a New Year’s Eve fireworks dispute in East Denpasar escalated into a violent attack, leaving a university student seriously injured. Police say the case remains under investigation.#Bali #Denpasar #NewYearsEve #heybali pic.twitter.com/G1uaWdZ6sb
— Hey Bali (@Heybaliinfo) January 1, 2026
