During Friday morning prayers, at least two loud explosions were heard from a mosque connected to SMA 72 State High School in Jakarta, Indonesia. Soon after, police announced they had arrested a 17-year-old male suspect who was “undergoing surgery” for injuries he suffered from the blasts.
Another student also needed surgical care following the incident, according to National Police Chief Ristoyo Sigit. Reports indicate that more than 50 people were injured, with several suffering serious burns.
“We have identified the suspected perpetrator,” Sigit noted. “Our team is currently conducting a thorough investigation to learn more about him and his background, including where he lives.”
The motive for the explosions is still unclear. Sigit mentioned that investigators found a toy weapon and some documents, which are part of their inquiry into what happened.
According to the Associated Press, one of the toy weapons was a machine gun with engravings that read: “14 Words. To Agartha” and “Blanton Tarrant: Welcome to Hell.” The phrase “14 Words” is often linked to white supremacist ideologies and references Brenton Tarrant, who was involved in the 2019 mass shooting at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Police stated they do not categorize this bombing as a terrorist attack. While Indonesia has a history of such incidents—most notably the Bali bombing that claimed 202 lives—officials assert that no similar attacks have occurred since 2023.
The school and the mosque are located within a naval compound in the Kelapa Gading district, north of Jakarta. Social media footage showed students rushing out of the school amid the chaos, smoke hinting at the site of the explosion.
A witness from the school cafeteria sharing her shock, remarked, “The sound was unbelievable. My heart was racing, and I ran outside fast.” She initially speculated it might have been an electrical issue, but as smoke billowed out, they instinctively began to flee.
Additionally, students spoke with Indonesian News, describing the suspect as a “loner” who often drew violent images.
