Armed attackers set MUI office on fire

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): A group of armed people burned down a building belonging to the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI)'s provincial chapter in Aceh on Wednesday.

Nobody was killed in the attack on the 22-year-old convention hall, which took place at about 2 a.m.

Witnesses said fire brigades arrived at the scene about an hour later, but were unable to extinguish the fire.

Material losses from the incident are expected to reach Rp 300 million (US$27,000).

"The police are tracking down the people who burned down the building," police spokesman Comr. Sad Harun said.

The officer said a day before the attack, the police had discovered automatic rifle bullets near the building.

"We located the bullets thanks to a tip from local residents," Harun said, adding that the ammunition was for AK-47 and Madsen automatic rifles. (50/02)