Blast hits Yogya church

Blast hits Yogya church

The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Amid mounting anti-U.S. sentiment in Yogyakarta, a number of
firecrackers exploded in a Roman Catholic Church in Seyegan
subdistrict, Sleman Regency, early on Saturday. No casualties
were reported.

Witnesses said the firecrackers, which caused a loud blast in
the church, were thrown by two unidentified men and caused minor
damage to the church's floor and plasterboard.

"I saw two men riding on a speeding motorcycle after throwing
the firecrackers into the church," said Wardiman.

The local police said they were still investigating the
incident and had yet to decide whether it was connected with the
anti-U.S. feelings in the province.

Meanwhile, in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, two German tourists
were beaten after being mistaken for Americans.

Putu Aria Tusan, a worker at the local association of tour and
travel agencies, said the two Germans were hit and kicked while
watching a display of the traditional local game peresean in the
city this week.

Hisbah Mulyadi, chief of the local tourism and culture
ministry office, said that a day after the incident, five
foreigners were pelted with stones as they passed a traditional
market in East Lombok district.

He expressed deep concern that the local police had failed to
take tough action against those who had attacked the foreigners.