ity Islamic sect that has been branded as "deviant" by religious authorities, police said. "The mosque at Parakan Salak was attacked just after midnight last night. It was burned down but no one was harmed," said a policeman in Sukabumi, West Java.
He said the mob of more than 100 people also vandalized a nearby school belonging to the Ahmadiyah group, which was declared "deviant" by religious authorities in January.
"Eight people are currently being questioned in the local police station, two people among them will be charged," said Abubakar Nataprawira, national police spokesman.
Nataprawira said the men could be charged with damaging religious sites, an offense that carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Only six police were present during the attack and they were unable to prevent the mob from ransacking the mosque, Nataprawira said. "We call for everyone that is against Ahmadi beliefs to restrain themselves from carrying out unlawful acts such as damaging religious buildings, schools, homes or assault," he said.
The state Antara news agency identified the attackers as members of the Jamiatul Mubalighin Communication Forum, which gathers Muslim preachers. No one was injured in the attack, Nataprawira said. An inter-departmental team which monitors religious groups earlier this month recommended the government disband the sect over their beliefs.
The government has yet to make a decision on the case, which has raised concerns in some quarters over religious freedom and tolerance in the world's most populous Muslim country.
Ahmadiyah claims several thousand members in Indonesia. It believes Mohammed was not the final Muslim prophet, contradicting a central tenet of mainstream Islam.
Various officials and Islamic leaders have already called on Muslims not to resort to violence in dealing with the Ahmadiyah.
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