Australian Brenton Craig Abbas Abdullah McArthur reportedly SPIT in the face of Java Imam in Bandung
Moment Australian tourist reportedly SQUIRT in the face of an imam in an Indonesian mosque – after blowing up about his 3am prayer call
- Brenton Craig Abbas Abdullah McArthur allegedly spat on an imam
- Mr McArthur has since been arrested while police investigate
An Australian tourist has been arrested in Indonesia after allegedly spitting in the face of a Muslim prayer leader at a mosque just outside the country’s capital.
Brenton Craig Abbas Abdullah McArthur, 47, is accused of assaulting 24-year-old Imam M Basri Anwar at al-Muhajir Mosque in Bandung city, 150 km southeast of Jakarta, on Friday.
The Aussie is accused of confronting Imam Anwar at 3am after reportedly becoming frustrated with the mosque broadcasting prayers from the Quran.
CCTV footage shows Mr McArthur entering the sacred building wearing a cap and dark shirt before approaching the Imam, leaning forward and reportedly spitting on him.
In the video, Brenton Craig Abbas Abdullah McArthur entered the mosque and approached the imam at around 3am on Friday.
Mr. McArthur then reportedly spat on the prayer leader, who then fled
Indonesian news website Kumparan reported that Mr McArthur checked out of his Pringgodani Guest House room at 6am, three hours after the alleged attack, before being detained that night at Soekarno Hatta International Airport.
Bandung Police Chief Kombes Budi Sartono told Kumparan that police saw the video after it was widely circulated online and requested immigration to stop Mr McArthur at the airport.
“We are immediately asking the Immigration Service to stop and deny him from leaving the country,” the police chief said.
“We will work with Immigration and the Ministry of Religion to determine whether or not violations have been committed.
‘He was picked up from Soetta [Soekarno-Hatta airport in Jakarta] and is now here [in Bandung police office] for questioning.’
The Australian Embassy has been given permission for a representative to accompany Mr McArthur during questioning.
The imam stood on the pulpit and held his mobile phone close to a speaker as he played recitations of the Qur’an.
“He was the guest of the hotel opposite the mosque,” Imam Anwar told local media.
“He came to the mosque, then he turned off the sound. He said something, but I don’t understand it.’
Indonesian police arrested Mr McArthur at the airport on Friday evening and announced an investigation into the allegations
Brenton Craig Abbas Abdullah McArthur, 47, (pictured) is accused of assaulting Imam M Basri Anwar, 24, at al-Muhajir Mosque in Bandung city, 150 km southeast of Jakarta
Mr McArthur later posted online after his arrest: ‘Stop crying all your racist tears.
“I am a Muslim and this is just a racist ringing the bell [an Indonesian word which refers to foreigners] and laughing be a coward.’
Mr McArthur describes himself as a ‘government punching bag’ in his social media biography, having repeatedly tweeted at Australian politicians including Tony Abbott.
He has also directed them at Julie Bishop, as well as Malcolm Turnbull, and Bill Shorten, where he mainly discusses Thailand and human rights violations.