Indonesian police have cordoned off a banyan tree after a Muslim youth group attacked the tree to challenge its alleged mystical powers.

Reuters quotes Susi Marsitawati, of Jakarta's park agency, as saying that, "The city government tried hard not to cut the tree when we built a bus lane. It is more than 100 years old and it is important for the environment."

There are rumors spreading around the city of Jakarta that the government was unable to cut the tree because of its magical powers.

Mystical beliefs are storngly upheld in Indonesia despite its strong Muslim religion. The leader of the Muslim youth group, United Islam Youth, said his members attacked the tree to challenge the disputed stories about its mystical powers.