Explosions at a mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, during Friday prayers have left dozens injured, with officials suggesting it could have been an attack. A 17-year-old student has been identified as the suspected perpetrator.
According to police, 55 people were hospitalised with injuries ranging from minor to serious, including burns, following the blasts at the mosque located within a school complex in the Kelapa Gading area.
Luciana, 43, who was working at the school canteen at the time, described the scene: "We were so shocked by the sound, it was massive.
Our hearts were racing, we couldn't breathe, and we ran outside." She recounted hearing multiple explosions, seeing broken windows, and witnessing panic as dozens fled the complex.
"I thought it was an electrical fault or the sound system that exploded, but we didn’t know exactly what had happened as we rushed out just as white smoke poured from the mosque."
Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, after visiting a hospital, confirmed that the young male suspect was undergoing surgery, but did not provide further details or a possible motive.
Indonesia’s National Police Chief, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, stated that the suspect was a student at the nearby school, and authorities were investigating his background and motive. "We have identified the suspected perpetrator, and we are currently investigating his identity, environment, home, and other aspects," he added.
Chaotic scene
While Indonesia has previously seen attacks on churches and Western targets, attacks on mosques are rare. Islamist militancy has largely been suppressed in recent years.
Police cordoned off the school compound as a crime scene, with armed officers in black carrying assault rifles while emergency and armoured vehicles lined the street.
The complex is located in a busy area on land largely owned by the navy, home to many military personnel and retired officers.
At the scene, a line of shoes was seen outside the mosque, and forensics were examining the evidence. A damaged alms box and fan were found on the ground, though there appeared to be no major structural damage to the mosque's exterior.
"I was looking for our children who attend school there. It was crowded, and we saw many injured victims, some with severely damaged faces," said local resident Immanuel Tarigan.
State news agency Antara reported that Deputy Chief Security Minister Lodewijk Freidrich confirmed two explosions occurred.
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