Mosque keeper bitten by stranger

TANGERANG (JP): In a bizarre case of violence, a mosque keeper, Sueb, was bitten repeatedly by a stranger late Tuesday.

Sueb, 54, needed some 30 stitches for injuries to his face, hands, chest, back and both ears. One of his ears nearly was bitten off.

According to another mosque keeper, Kalyubi, Sueb was about to perform his midnight prayer at Ar-Rahmah Mosque near his house in Cibodas Baru, Jatiuwung district, Tangerang, when a man wearing a red jacket approached him.

"What prayer are you going to perform," the stranger asked according to Kalyubi.

Sueb answered and left the man to perform his prayer, showing no signs of suspicion.

Like many village mosques, Ar-Rahmah Mosque allows strangers to temporarily stay and sleep inside the building.

A few minutes after Sueb began his prayer, the stranger suddenly grabbed him from behind and began to bite him.

Sueb, overpowered by the taller and more muscular man, could only scream for help.

The man released a bloody Sueb and fled the scene before alerted residents arrived at the mosque.

Doctor M. Rifki from Tangerang Hospital confirmed that Sueb's wounds were caused by human bites.

Police have no clues about the possible motive for the attack. (emf)