Crowds attack police area

BANDUNG: A police residential area in Lembang, 25 kilometers north of Bandung, was attacked by residents on Monday night. The incident was sparked by a fight during a kampong soccer match involving police.

The crowd damaged the roofs of several homes but warning shots stopped them from causing further havoc.

Members of the elite mobile brigade still guarded the area in Cikole as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, Bandung Police chief Lt.Col. Edmond Ilyas and military command members helped to make peace between residents and the mobile police brigade. Four residents were injured and rushed to the Jayagiri hospital in Lembang.

The unrest started Monday afternoon on a soccer field on the grounds of the police residential area.

Witnesses said the match held in commemoration of the Aug. 17 Independence Day, was 15 minutes into the game when a player who was about to kick the ball was beaten up by a member of the rival team. The former was a member of the mobile brigade and a brawl ensued. Police members among the spectators fired warning shots and the scuffle stopped, but started up again and continued into the night. (43)