World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
One civilian killed during flag removal in Aceh, Indonesian military says
A civilian was killed during a flag-removal operation in Pulo Keunari village, Pidie district, Aceh, on Wednesday.
The Indonesian military says troops went to take down a moon-and-star flag displayed at a religious celebration.
Residents reportedly tried to stop the troops from entering the mosque grounds, and the military says the crowd threw stones and wood.
The military says troops first used riot-control equipment, then fired blank rounds and rubber bullets; a resident said shots were aimed at the crowd.
The military counted 14 civilian casualties, including one death and 13 injuries, while a local account named six injured residents; the military also said six soldiers were hurt.
The military expressed condolences and said the deceased was buried early Thursday.
The area was reported calm by Thursday morning, with troops still monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities.
One civilian was killed and 13 others were injured during an Indonesian military operation to remove a flag in Pulo Keunari, Pidie, Aceh.
The Indonesian Army said six military personnel were also injured and that it removed the flag after the crowd dispersed.
A resident told CNN Indonesia that soldiers fired toward the crowd, while the Army said it used blank rounds and then rubber bullets as the situation escalated.
The Army said the incident followed unsuccessful efforts to persuade event organisers not to raise the flag.
- Who
- Indonesian Army personnel and residents at the event; one civilian was killed.
- What
- Soldiers removed a flag after a confrontation. The Army reported 14 civilian casualties, including one death, and six injured soldiers.
- When
- Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
- Where
- Pulo Keunari village, Tiro subdistrict, Pidie district, Aceh, Indonesia.
- Why
- The Army said it was removing the flag after organisers refused to agree not to raise it. The sources also link the incident to a Prophet Muhammad’s birthday event.
Residents
Indonesian Army
Account of gunfire
Residents
Amran, a resident at the scene, said soldiers directed shots at the crowd blocking their way.
Indonesian Army
The Army said it first used blank rounds as warning shots, followed by rubber bullets.
Account of the confrontation
Residents
Residents were reportedly trying to prevent soldiers from entering the grounds to take down the flag.
Indonesian Army
The Army said people threw stones and wood at personnel, some carried sharp weapons, and soldiers’ safety was threatened.
A Prophet Muhammad’s birthday event was held in Pulo Keunari, where the flag was raised.
A confrontation occurred, and the Army reported one civilian death, 13 other civilians injured and six soldiers injured.
The Army said the dead civilian was buried in a public cemetery in Tiro.
The Army said the situation in Pulo Keunari was generally calm.
- Civilian casualties
- 1 killed and 13 injured, according to the Indonesian Army
- Military casualties
- 6 soldiers injured
- Location
- Pulo Keunari village, Tiro, Pidie district, Aceh
- Flag
- The Moon and Star flag
- Operation unit
- Kodim 0102/Pidie
2 sources
What people are saying
The shots were clearly directed at us; many people were injured by gunfire and someone died
Personnel had tried to calm and disperse the crowd using riot-control equipment. However, because the crowd continued to act violently and personnel safety was threatened, security measures were taken in stages, with warning shots using blank rounds, followed by rubber bullets
We are still looking into that information