Four arrested in church attacks<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The South Jakarta Police have arrested four suspects in Sunday's
\nattack on a church and three shop-houses used for religious
\nservices in Pamulang, Tangerang, Banten province, which left
\npriest Jonathan Wijaya injured.<\/p>\n
"We arrested four men on Sunday night who allegedly played a
\nmajor role in the vandalism," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr.
\nPrasetyo said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The four suspects, identified as Hamdan, Solihin, Nurjaya and
\nDodi, are being detained at the South Jakarta Police station.<\/p>\n
They are accused of violating Article 170 of the Criminal Code
\non the destruction of property.<\/p>\n
The suspects, along with dozens of other people, allegedly
\nstormed Ellem Church on Jl. R.E. Martadinata in Ciputat,
\nTangerang, and three shop-houses in the nearby Mutiara Center
\ncommercial complex in Pondok Cabe, Pamulang.<\/p>\n
The three shop-houses were used by different congregations for
\nreligious services.<\/p>\n
Carrying sticks, the mob broke into Ellem Church at about 10
\na.m., smashing tables, chairs and other furniture. When priest
\nJonathan attempted to stop the mob, they beat him. Jonathan
\nescaped with only minor injuries.<\/p>\n
The mob then moved to the Mutiara Center, about a kilometer
\nfrom the church. They stormed into the first shop-house where the
\nBukit Sion congregation was holding a service. During the attack,
\na member of the congregation was assaulted and later had to be
\ntaken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.<\/p>\n
The attackers then targeted the other two shop-houses, where
\nthey caused some physical damage.<\/p>\n
Bekasi Police also reported on Monday an attack on a house in
\nTambun, Bekasi, that is used for religious services. This attack
\ntook place on Sunday at about 9 p.m.<\/p>\n
The police said they had questioned four people over their
\npossible involvement in the attack on the house in Perum Griya
\nAsri I in Sumber Jaya subdistrict, Tambun, Bekasi. The house is
\nreportedly owned by a priest, identified as Simanungkalit.<\/p>\n
A witness who asked not to be identified said the attack was
\ncarried out by about 100 people armed with sticks and stones, who
\nfirst gathered at a nearby home.<\/p>\n
"I heard them and peeped out at them. They were really scary
\nand savagely stoned the house," the witness was quoted as saying
\non Monday by Tempo News Room.<\/p>\n
An hour after the attack, the neighbors reported the incident
\nto subdistrict head Milin Jaya, who ordered local residents to
\nhelp guard the housing complex.<\/p>\n
As of Monday morning, Simanungkalit could not be reached for
\ncomment.<\/p>",
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