Police Name Twelve Suspects in North Sumatra Temple Attacks
Medan. Police have charged twelve people with robbery and vandalism after several Buddhist temples and monasteries were ransacked by mobs in the city of Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, last weekend.
“We've charged eight suspects with robbery and four with vandalism,” North Sumatra Police spokeswoman Sr. Comr. Rina Sari Ginting said on Monday (01/08).
The incident on Saturday began when residents reportedly got angry at a woman of Chinese descent who they alleged protested against a mosque using loudspeakers to broadcast calls to prayers and recitals in front of her home in Tanjung Balai.
The situation quickly escalated as provocations against the woman circulated on social media.
Reports said at least five Buddhist houses of worship were damaged and burned down by the angry mob. No casualties were reported.
Rina said police have questioned more than 39 witnesses in the case.
“There could be more suspects as we are still questioning other witnesses,” Rina said.
The country's second-biggest Muslim group, Muhammadiyah, has called for greater religious and racial tolerance following the Tanjung Balai attacks.
The chairman of Muhammadiyah's youth organization, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, said the riots were intolerable and could damage Indonesia's religious and ethnic diversity.
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