The Jakarta Globe:
The National Police have set up a special team to investigate Sunday’s attack on the Ahmadiyah community in Tasikmalaya, West Java, by Islamic hard-liners.
A mob of hard-liners stormed Sukamaju village on Sunday, breaking through police barricades to damage homes belonging to Ahmadiyah members before a planned commemoration of Isra Mi’raj or the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
The mob, which totaled between 200 and 400, did not wear identifying clothing, but were likely members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) or an affiliated group, police said. Investigators had not named any suspects in the attack on Monday.
A man inspects an Ahmadiyah mosque damaged in an attack by hard-line Islamists in Singaparna, Tasikmalaya, West Java on Monday, May 6, 2013.
“We really regret this incident and we condemn the violence,” National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said. “The National Police chief has ordered the West Java Police chief to set up a special team to investigate the case. We have questioned four witnesses.”
Many of the hard-liners were from outside Tasikmalaya, local police chief Sr. Comr. Wijonarko told the Indonesian news portal portalkbr.com. Wijonarko said they warned the Ahmadiyah that any plans to celebrate Isra Mi’raj would likely lead to attacks from hard-line Islamists.
Sixty police officers set up an unsuccessful barricade on Sunday. The barricade was overtaken by the hard-liners.