Christian pastors attacked in Bekasi, one stabbed

More violent attacks on religious freedom in Indonesia occurred Sunday morning when two pastors from the Huria Kristen Batak Protestant (HKBP) church in Bekasi, West Java, were mobbed. One pastor was stabbed.

The information was confirmed by a Bekasi Police officer identified as Daimun. “That information is correct. The attack took place around 9 a.m. Our officers are on site to investigate the incident,” Daimun said, as quoted by kompas.com.

The incident took place near the HKBP church in the Ciketing, Mustika Jaya housing complex, Daimun said.

“This is the same location where another church service was disrupted by a group of people [claiming to represent] a certain hard-line organization,” he said.

The victim of the stabbing was Rev. ST Sihombing, fellow parish pastor Leonard Nababan said, adding that Rev. Sihombing was on his way to church to lead a Sunday morning service when he was suddenly stabbed by attackers on a motorcycle who immediately fled the scene.

Information about the violence first appeared on the Twitter network, which reported that that Rev. Luspida Simandjuntak was beaten up and Rev. Sihombing was stabbed before the Sunday service.

Rev. Sihombing was rushed to Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Bekasi where he is reported to be in critical condition.