"We are still conducting a probe into the case. The local residents have reported this assault to us," Head of the Medan Area Police's Criminal Investigation Unit First Inspector ALP Tambunan informed journalists here on Wednesday.
Some 50 people, equipped with an excavator, attacked the mosque on Tuesday at around 11:30 p.m. local time. They stole several items of the mosque, including carpet and charity boxes.
The vandals also attempted to bulldoze its building by using the excavator, a local resident named Anto Robot informed ANTARA representative, who had met him at the ill-fated house of worship on Wednesday.
The attackers also damaged several other electronic devices in the mosque, such as air conditioners and fans. However, their attempt to destroy the mosque's building could be stalled after several women arrived to defend it, he stated.
With increasing presence of local residents at the mosque, the attackers were unable to bulldoze the building and instead fled the area to avoid a physical clash with the locals, Robot stated. Related news: Cirebon mosque bomb attack injures 28
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
