An explosion occurred during Friday prayers at a mosque inside a school complex in the capital, sending injured people to hospital.
Published November 7, 2025
Indonesia’s national police chief said the suspect believed to have been involved in an explosion at a mosque inside a school complex that injured dozens of people was a student at the school, and an investigation into the background and motive was underway.
Ristoyo Sigit Prabowo said there had been no deaths so far from the explosion in the capital Jakarta. The incident occurred during Friday prayers at a school facility in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.
Prabowo said one out of every two people undergoing surgery is suspected of being the perpetrator.
“The motive is still under investigation. A toy weapon and some documents were found and are being investigated to determine the motive,” he added.
Police have previously sought to quash speculation that the blast was an attack, with city police chief Asep Eddy Suheri saying the cause was under investigation.
Deputy House Speaker Sukhumi Dasko Ahmad told media after visiting the hospital that a young male suspect was undergoing surgery, but did not provide details or a possible motive.
chaotic scene
Witnesses reported hearing two loud explosions around noon (5 a.m. GMT), just as the sermon was beginning at the mosque.
Luciana, 43, who was working in the school cafeteria at the time, told Reuters: “We were very surprised by the sound. It was so loud. My heart was pounding, I couldn’t breathe and I ran outside.”
She described multiple explosions, broken windows and panic as dozens of people evacuated the complex.
“We thought there was a problem with the electrical wiring or the sound system exploded, but we couldn’t be sure because we started running the moment white smoke rose from the mosque,” Luciana added.
Suheri said 55 people, mostly students, were initially hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to serious, including burns. He added that 20 people were still being treated in hospital, three with serious injuries.
Suheri said anti-bomb squads at the scene found a toy rifle and a toy gun near the mosque.
“Police are investigating the scene to determine the cause of the explosion,” he explained.
Local news channels showed footage of police lining up around the school and ambulances on standby. Images of the mosque showed no major damage.
Concerned relatives of the students gathered at centers set up at Yarsi Hospital and Cempaka Putih Hospital to seek information about their loved ones. Parents told local television stations that their children suffered injuries from being hit in the head, legs and hands by sharp claws and explosive fragments.
