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Catholic mob burns police post
From correspondents in Jakarta
09feb05

AN angry Catholic mob torched a police post and vandalised another in Indonesia's West Timor province, injuring several people in riots sparked by anger over an incident during mass, police said today.

The riots in Atambua town occurred after police rescued a man who was being assaulted at the Immaculate Cathedral for allegedly crushing the communion wafer during morning mass, district police spokesman Fretes told AFP.

Police took the 27-year-old man, who could be charged for contempt of religion, to the district police headquarters for questioning, he said.

But the angry crowd demanded the man be handed over to them and later marched in protest to two nearby police posts, setting fire to one and vandalising the other, he said.

"They also pelted our personnel who tried to defend their post. Several policemen were injured by things thrown at them," he said.

Atambua Bishop Anton Pain Ratu said several civilians were also injured in the riots by "hundreds" of angry church members. A nurse at the local hospital said at least three injured men were in hospital.

The bishop said the man's action was regarded an abomination in the Catholic religion as the thin circular wafer symbolised the body of Christ.

A similar incident occurred in the same diocese two weeks ago and a man was still under police investigation, he added.

Although the mob had dispersed, Fretes said the situation was tense with many shops in the area shuttered and most people staying indoors.

A group of paramilitary police from the provincial capital Kupang had been deployed to Atambua to reinforce the local team, the ElShinta radio said.

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