Protesters against Akon concert in Sri Lanka pelt broadcaster with stones; 4 injured

Sri Lankan protesters against Akon throw stones

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Protesters outraged at an upcoming concert by R&B singer Akon hurled stones at a Sri Lankan private broadcaster’s headquarters Monday, injuring four workers and damaging the building.

The attack followed accusations that Akon desecrated an image of the Buddha in a music video, upsetting many in Sri Lanka’s conservative Buddhist majority.

Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said several protesters were taken into custody after attacking the headquarters of the Maharaja Organization, the broadcaster sponsoring next month’s concert in Colombo.

About 200 people suddenly gathered outside the office in the capital, Colombo, and threw stones at the building, said Chevan Daniel, head of news at Maharaja.

The stones shattered some of the office’s windows, damaged several vehicles parked outside the building and left four workers with minor injuries, he said. Placards left at the scene read, “Stop Akon’s show.”

The protesters appeared to be angry over Akon’s video “Sexy Chick,” which features scantily clad women dancing at a pool party with a Buddha statue visible in the background.

Maharaja has three television and four radio stations.

Last year, a group of armed men attacked its studio and transmission compound, tossing hand grenades and spraying the building with gunfire. That attack came days after the government accused the media group of not being patriotic enough in its coverage of the military’s offensive over ethnic Tamil insurgents.

The police promised a full investigation of that incident, but no one was ever arrested or prosecuted.

(This version CORRECTS name of broadcaster .)