A devastating explosion during Friday prayers at a mosque within a high school complex in Jakarta, Indonesia, has left fifty-four individuals injured. The incident, which took place around 12:15 PM local time (05:15 GMT) in the Kelapa Gading district, resulted in injuries that range from minor to serious, including burns, as confirmed by city police chief Asep Edi Suheri during a press conference.
Investigation into the suspect and the blast
The primary suspect, a 17-year-old student who was undergoing surgery after the explosion, is currently under investigation. Authorities are delving into the suspect’s background and exploring possible motives for the attack. The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have deployed a bomb disposal team to the state-run high school to collect evidence and ensure that no additional explosive devices are present.
Reports indicate that three individuals suffered serious injuries while seventeen others sustained minor injuries; some victims have already been treated and discharged from medical facilities. Eyewitness accounts from students suggest that the explosion may have been caused by a homemade bomb brought in by a student who had reportedly faced bullying.
Eyewitness accounts and concerns
A pupil recounted to Indonesia’s government-owned news agency Antara that the young suspect had often been ostracized by peers. Other students described him as a “loner,” often seen drawing violent scenes and later found lying on the ground after the blast. A school cook vividly recounted the chaos, stating, “Our hearts were beating fast, we couldn’t breathe,” after witnessing white smoke billowing from the mosque and shattered windows following the explosion.
“Our hearts were beating fast, we couldn’t breathe,”
In the aftermath, a high-ranking police officer confirmed that two objects resembling firearms were located at the scene. Images from Antara indicated that one object appeared to be a submachine gun while another resembled a pistol. Notably, the submachine gun-type object bore an inscription on its barrel stating: “14 words. For Agartha,” and featured the name “Brenton Tarrant. Welcome to Hell.” This reference is linked to the 2019 mass shooting perpetrated by Tarrant at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, which resulted in the loss of 51 lives.
Responding to the concerns surrounding the presence of weapons, a minister who visited the site later clarified that what had been reported as firearms were ultimately identified as toy guns. Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus urged the public not to jump to conclusions about the explosion being a “terrorist act,” emphasizing that the investigation was still ongoing. Additionally, a dark green belt meant for storing gun cartridges was also recovered from the scene.
As the investigation unfolds, the incident has raised significant alarm in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding security and safety within educational institutions.