Jakarta, November 7, 2025: In a shocking incident that has unsettled Indonesia’s capital, a series of explosions ripped through a mosque in the Kelapa Gading district of North Jakarta during Friday prayers, leaving at least 54 people injured, most of them students. The incident unfolded at SMA 72 High School’s mosque complex just as worshippers gathered for midday prayers, raising urgent questions about security, motive, and the safety of religious spaces in one of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority countries.
The Incident: Multiple Explosions During Worship
Eyewitnesses reported an atmosphere of chaos and terror as two successive blasts interrupted the Friday congregation around 12:15 p.m. local time. Worshippers recounted hearing loud explosions, followed by a rush of white smoke and shattered windows before panic ensued. “We were startled by the sound; it was tremendous. Our hearts raced, we struggled to breathe, and we rushed outside,” recounted one staff member present in the canteen during the incident.
Local police swiftly cordoned off the area while ambulances and emergency services responded, evacuating the injured to nearby hospitals. Of the more than 50 injured, several sustained critical burns and cuts from flying debris. Parents gathered anxiously at emergency coordination centers, seeking information on their children as news spread rapidly through the city’s media networks.
Casualties and Immediate Response
Authorities confirmed that the majority of those hurt were students on the premises at the start of prayer. Quick action by emergency responders mitigated potential fatalities, but 20 people remained hospitalized late Friday, three of whom were in serious condition.
Officials, including the Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and Jakarta’s mayor, visited hospitals to express condolences and affirm support. As a sign of solidarity, prayers for the recovery of the injured were held across the capital in mosques and neighborhoods through Friday evening.
Main Suspect: A 17-Year-Old Student Under Investigation
Initial investigation has identified a 17-year-old male student as the main suspect in the explosion. According to police, the young man was also among those injured and is undergoing surgery in a local hospital. Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo explained to the press that the suspect, a student at the adjacent school, is at the center of a “comprehensive investigation.” Early findings point to the use of homemade explosives, with bomb disposal teams searching for any additional devices and analyzing materials found at the scene.
Fellow students told Indonesian news outlets that the individual had been seen bringing suspicious objects to prayer and reportedly experienced social isolation and bullying. Investigators recovered toy firearms and written materials from the blast site, with police confirming that the motive remains unclear and is a focus of their ongoing work.
Not a Terror Attack, but Motive Unclear
Crucially, both national authorities and local law enforcement have emphasized that, at this stage in the probe, there is no concrete evidence connecting the explosions to a broader terrorist plot. The nature of the homemade device and the personal background of the suspected perpetrator point to a complex, possibly individual motivation rather than organized extremist violence.
However, security has been stepped up across Jakarta’s school and religious facilities as a precaution, pending further findings from the investigation. The bomb squad declared the immediate area free of further danger following a sweep for additional explosives.
School and Community React: Solidarity and Anxiety
The explosion has rattled the education community. Teachers, students, and parents expressed shock and grief, emphasizing the importance of psychological counseling for survivors and their families. While the mosque building itself did not sustain severe structural damage, the trauma and distress experienced by hundreds on campus will require sustained attention by local authorities.
The mosque was cordoned off for forensic examination, with the police collecting debris, nails, and any remnants of the device for laboratory analysis. Classes at SMA 72 and surrounding institutions were suspended as a precaution through the weekend.
National and International Reaction
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has not yet issued an official statement, but local and national politicians were quick to condemn any act of violence targeted at holy sites. North Jakarta’s mayor, Ali Maulana Hakim, vowed a thorough investigation, saying, “We will not let acts of terror or hate intimidate our communities”.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari issued a message of support and solidarity, reaffirming Pakistan’s readiness to cooperate on anti-extremism initiatives and wishing a swift recovery for the injured.
Broader Security Concerns
Indonesia, which has faced sporadic extremist threats over the decades, has strengthened its security protocols at houses of worship and educational institutions. While this latest explosion does not bear the hallmarks of a major terror attack, it nevertheless revives fears about the safety of public religious gatherings and the vulnerability of young people to isolation and violence.
Community leaders called for calm and requested the media and public to avoid speculation as police and counter-terrorism agencies continue their inquiries. Human rights groups demanded greater attention to youth mental health and inclusion within national anti-radicalization strategies.
Investigation Continues: Search for Answers
As Jakarta settles into an uneasy weekend, police continue to examine the life and electronic communications of the 17-year-old suspect, interviewing classmates, teachers, and family. The materials found, including writings and imitation weapons, are being tested to understand any ideological or psychological triggers behind the act.
Forensic experts expect to release initial conclusions within days, while trauma support teams have been dispatched to hospitals and the Kelapa Gading neighborhood. The city, meanwhile, remains under heightened alert, as parents and communities across Indonesia hope for swift justice and healing for those injured in Friday’s tragic mosque explosion.
