Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire/@bintangbete

This is the moment gawping onlookers stand filming a bank robbery behind a police officer who is in a tense stand off with the crooks as shots are fired.

The incident took place outside a Bank Indonesia branch in the city of Dumai in the eastern Indonesian province of Riau when the 44-year-old suspect, identified as Gono, was apprehended by the police.

In the footage, a group of onlookers film the dangerous incident with their phones as armed cops position themselves outside the bank.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire

The bystanders even continue filming after a loud gunshot is heard.

Local comedian Bintang Bete said on social media: “Only in Indonesia, when there’s a police shootout with a bank robber, people watch the whole thing while recording it from a short distance.”

According to local media, Gono entered the bank carrying a machete and a jerry can of petrol and went “berserk”.

He allegedly destroyed furniture and threatened employees with the machete.

Reports said that the police shot Gono in his left leg after he refused to give himself up.

He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and remains in police custody.

Police chief Restika Nainggolan claimed that Gono did not intend to rob the bank and only wanted to create a scene and burn it down.

Nainggolan said: “He claimed he wanted to imitate a scene in an action film he watched, that’s why he brought a machete and fuel. He didn’t get to burn [the bank] because he was shot by the police officer.”

The suspect will reportedly undergo a psychiatric examination because he continually changed his statement to the police.

The investigation continues.