Indonesian teen's diary and online trail reveal path to Jakarta mosque blasts

An Indonesian student suspected of carrying out a bomb attack at his school mosque in Jakarta wrote of feeling isolated in his 42-page diary and drew inspiration from a Telegram group glorifying white supremacist attacks, according to new details from police.

The early‑November explosions struck worshippers as they lined up for Friday prayers, injuring 96 people and scattering shoes, prayer mats and glass across the courtyard. 

"He wanted to be recognised by members of the online community … because he feels lonely," Jakarta police spokesperson Reonald Simanjuntak said.

Police said the student, who is being treated as a "child facing the law" under Indonesia's juvenile crime regulations and has not been formally identified, acted alone, building seven small bombs at home by following instructions from YouTube videos. 

He sourced materials such as potassium chloride and nails from online marketplaces without setting off alarm bells, a security lapse police said they will examine closely. 

Four of the devices detonated while three failed to explode.

Simanjuntak said the teenager joined an international Telegram channel where members shared violent material and discussed past attacks, including the 2019 massacre at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in the United States.

The press office of Google, which owns YouTube, did not immediately respond to request for comment. 

Police plan to question the suspect soon. He is in stable condition in hospital, recovering from injuries sustained when an apparent suicide device intended to kill him failed to detonate properly.

Before formally charging him, the country's parole and probation office will determine whether the teenager is eligible to stand trial and what form any legal proceedings should take, Simanjuntak said.

The office will also decide whether he should be handed over to the state or returned to his parents, he added, without providing a timeline.

Tags

WhiteSupremacy SchoolAttack MosqueBombing TeenSuspect PublicSafety Indonesia diary Jakarta Mosque blast