Dozens of people vandalized Freeport facilities and looted ore concentrate at the copper and gold giant's mining district in Mimika, Papua, Indonesia.
Witnesses say around 70 people came to the mining area on Sunday, looting and vandalizing cars and a security post.
Papua Police spokesman Commissioner Gede Jaya Sumerta confirmed on Monday that the incident had taken place.
He said the perpetrators, residents who are non-employees, also vandalized buses for employees and caused general alarm.
He said after entering the site, the group vandalized passing vehicles and also the office and started to shout, scaring the employees and sending them fleeing.
Security officers, aided by police and military personnel, were only able to regain control of the site two hours later.
Several of the vandals were arrested and taken into the custody of the Tembagapura Police.
The situation has returned to normal, with a heavy security presence in place.
Freeport sent five buses to the site to evacuate some of the employees. It is still not clear what losses were incurred from the vandalism and looting.
