Man arrested for bomb threats on church

Ruslan Sangadji

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A man has been arrested for threatening to bomb a Toraja church in Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi, police say.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Rais D. Adam said the arrest of Ligri Ludia Dandan, 20, came after police traced telephone calls to his house through information provided by PT Telkom.

"The police apprehended the perpetrator at his house ... in Tolitoli," Rais said.

Ligri was being detained at the Tolitoli Police precinct for further questioning, he said.

Rais said Ligri allegedly phoned the church on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, saying a bomb had been planted there and was about to explode. The calls sparked panic among parishioners.

A preliminary investigation found that Ligri was a Christian and was from the area.

"The police will question him about the motive behind the threats," Rais said. -- JP