The police are investigating an attack on a mosque in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta, saying they hoped to find the motive.

Bantul Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sahat M. Hasibuan said the police were handling the case, and so far, they were unable to indicate parties that might be responsible for the attack.

“We are investigating the attack further,” said Sahat.

A group of unidentified people have reportedly burned praying mats, carpets and sarongs in Fathurrahman Mosque in Jambidan village, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta. Local residents became aware of the incident on Monday morning. The mosque is located on the second floor of a building belonging to a branch of Indonesia’s second-largest Islamic organization, Muhammadiyah, in south Banguntapan, Yogyakarta.

(Read also: Unidentified people allegedly burn prayer mats, sarongs in Yogyakarta mosque)

Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB) founder Kyai Abdul Muhaimin called on all societal elements to stay calm and not be provoked by the incident. He said the case was part of a string of attacks against ulema that had previously occurred across Indonesia.

“I think it has occurred by design. There have been intelligence operations that aim to trigger conflict among society groups ahead of the elections. It is also possible that such attacks have been launched simply to destroy Indonesia,” said Muhaimin. The religious leader hoped all people could act more maturely in responding to such a situation.

Muhaimin asserted that recent attacks against Islamic ulema and other religious leaders in areas across Indonesia were not based on religion but purely triggered by politics, in which some people wanted to use issues related to religion and even communism to achieve their political interests. (ebf)