Post by : Badri Ariffin

More than 50 individuals sustained injuries following a series of explosions that erupted in a mosque located within a school compound in North Jakarta's Kelapa Gading area during Friday prayers. The blasts struck around 12:15 p.m. local time, disrupting a moment of peace as students assembled for their prayers.

Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo indicated that a 17-year-old student from the same institution is the primary suspect, having also been injured in the ordeal. Preliminary investigations show that the teenager likely crafted a homemade explosive that ignited inside the mosque.

Witnesses recounted scenes filled with chaos and terror. Many of the injured, predominantly students, suffered from burns and other injuries due to the blast. One school cook recounted, “Our hearts raced; it was hard to breathe,” as he dashed out upon hearing the thunderous explosion and seeing thick smoke billowing from the mosque.

Emergency responders and bomb disposal units promptly arrived to secure the area and look for any possible remaining explosives. Authorities later discovered two firearm-like objects on-site, initially thought to be real weapons. One of these items contained troubling markings, referencing Brenton Tarrant, the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack in New Zealand.

However, officials later confirmed that the objects were mere replicas or toy firearms, alleviating some of the immediate concerns. Yet, the inscriptions triggered significant worries about the teenager’s possible exposure to violent online materials.

Students have reported that the alleged attacker kept to himself, often facing bullying from peers. Some classmates noted that in recent weeks, he exhibited odd behavior and created sketches depicting violence.

Authorities have cordoned off the location and are in the process of gathering materials for forensic investigation. As the inquiry unfolds, the emphasis remains on uncovering potential motives to avert any future incidents that could destabilize Indonesia’s educational environments.

#Global News