Andi Hajramurni, Makassar, South Sulawesi – South Sulawesi Police used force to evacuate around 40 Ahmadiyah followers from their mosque on Jl. Anuang, Makassar amid heightened tension in the vicinity with the presence of hardline group.

Police officers broke into the mosque's locked door at 9:15 p.m. local time and took out all the members, including 25 women and 11 children. They were taken to Makassar Police using two vans and one truck. Some Ahmadiyah members reportedly managed to flee using backdoor.

Those members have locked themselves in the mosque since 5 p.m. following the rally by a hardline group claiming to be members of the South Sulawesi's Islam Defenders Front (FPI) in front of the Ahmadiyah secretariat office next to the mosque.

The mob vandalized the mosque's door and brought down the address board in front of the office using an electric saw. The mob also shouted to the Ahmadiyah members to get out from the mosque.

Dozens of police who safeguarded the vicinity since Friday reportedly let the mob turn violent.

Makassar Police deputy chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Endi Sutendi claimed that police evacuated the Ahmadiyah members amid concern on the members' safety. When asked about vandalism done by the mob, Endi said,"We will process that later."