Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Counterterrorism police unit Densus 88 on Tuesday said the suspected perpetrator behind the blast at state high school SMAN 72 Jakarta last Friday acted alone and learned how to assemble the explosive device from online sources.
"The bomb was assembled independently, and the perpetrator accessed bomb-making instructions on the internet," Densus 88 spokesperson Mayndra Eka Wardhana said in a statement.
The blast left dozens of students injured, with most victims suffering hearing loss due to the intensity of the blast, doctors said.
Police previously reported they recovered seven explosive devices at the school in North Jakarta's Kelapa Gading area. Four of them detonated, while three others failed to explode.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the origins of the materials used.
The investigation has also intensified after police discovered what appeared to be a replica rifle at the scene, bearing references to convicted mass killers. Photos obtained by Beritasatu.com show a black rifle resembling an AR-15, with white inscriptions reading "For Agartha," "Brenton Tarrant. Welcome to Hell," along with the names Anton Lundin Pettersson and Alexandre Bissonnette. Police later confirmed the rifle was a toy.
Brenton Tarrant carried out the 2019 mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 worshippers. Bissonnette committed the 2017 mosque shooting in Quebec City, Canada, which left six dead. Pettersson killed three people in a 2015 sword attack at a school in Trollhattan, Sweden, in a rampage driven by xenophobic motives.
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the suspect is believed to be a student, and investigators are now focusing on motive and background. Police confirmed the suspect has no links to any terrorist group.
Jakarta Police also clarified that the suspect is not anti-Islam, despite the blast occurring at the school mosque. The Jakarta Police's Public Relations Chief Budi Hermanto said, "Yes, it happened at a place of worship, but the individual is not anti-Islam. This was purely the act of a lone individual." Authorities urged the public not to view the incident as a religiously motivated attack.
Police said further updates will be announced once investigations by the Jakarta Police and Densus 88 produce a complete picture of the suspect's intent, the source of materials, and any online influences involved.
Meanwhile, the Child Protection Commission (KPAI) said Monday it has yet to find any evidence or verified reports supporting allegations of bullying linked to the explosion. Multiple schoolmates told reporters the student had long been a target of bullying at school.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/police-jakarta-school-blast-suspect-acted-alone-studied-bombs-onlin