A series of explosions tore through a mosque at a high school in Jakarta on Friday, injuring at least 54 people during midday prayers. Authorities have identified the suspected perpetrator as a 17-year-old male student, who was among those wounded and is currently undergoing surgery.
The blasts occurred at a state high school located within a naval housing complex in the Kelapa Gading district. Witnesses reported hearing multiple loud detonations just as the sermon began, sending panicked students fleeing as grey smoke filled the building.
Law enforcement officials stated they recovered a modified toy submachine gun from the scene. The weapon was reportedly inscribed with symbols and phrases associated with extremist ideologies, including a reference to a past overseas attack on a place of worship.
The national police chief confirmed the teenage suspect is one of two students receiving surgical treatment for injuries sustained in the incident. He emphasized that a thorough investigation is underway to establish the individual’s identity, background, and precise motives. Investigators are examining how the device was assembled and the significance of the markings found on the weapon.
Most victims sustained burns and lacerations from shattered glass. Preliminary information suggests the explosives were detonated near the mosque’s loudspeaker system. The Jakarta police chief cautioned the public against premature conclusions, urging people to await the official findings of the ongoing probe before labeling the event.
Police are also examining reports, cited in local media, that the suspect may have been a victim of bullying and sought retaliation. Authorities acknowledged challenges in gathering statements, as many potential witnesses are themselves receiving medical care. Support services are being provided to students and staff affected by the trauma.
Of the injured, approximately 33 students remain hospitalized with burns and wounds from debris. Officials revised the casualty figure downward from an initial count, noting that many of the injuries involved hearing damage due to the proximity of the blasts. They assured the public that the situation in the capital is secure and under control.
Circulating video footage showed scenes of chaos, with dozens of uniformed students running across the school grounds, some with their hands clamped over their ears. Injured individuals were seen being carried on stretchers to vehicles for transport to medical facilities.
Anxious family members gathered at local hospitals seeking news about their children, some of whom suffered injuries to their heads, hands, and feet from flying fragments.