Jakarta School Explosion: Police Widen Net as Investigation Unfolds
Faktain News – JAKARTA – The investigation into the devastating explosion at SMA Negeri 72 Jakarta continues to intensify, with authorities identifying one student as a primary suspect. However, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo indicated that the number of individuals involved could potentially increase as the probe deepens. General Prabowo shared these updates during a visit to the explosion victims at SMAN 72 Kelapa Gading, who are currently receiving medical care at Rumah Sakit Islam (RSI) Cempaka Putih Jakarta on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
Unraveling the Motive: Cyber Teams and Family Links
General Prabowo affirmed the relentless efforts of the investigative teams on the ground. While a single perpetrator has been initially identified, police are not ruling out the chilling possibility of other individuals influencing or actively assisting in the incident. “Currently, we have one individual in custody, but our efforts do not stop there. We are meticulously sweeping for any other parties involved, and our team is actively working,” he explained.
A crucial component of the investigation involves the National Police’s cyber team, tasked with meticulously uncovering the suspect’s entire social media footprint. Authorities aim to determine if exposure to extremist content or any form of incitement pushed the suspect toward orchestrating the school blast. “We are examining social media activity. We are delving into whether he subscribed to a particular ideology, was exposed to certain content, or perhaps was drawn to things that motivated him. The reasons behind these actions are all being thoroughly investigated,” General Prabowo stated.
Beyond digital trails, police are also gathering vital information from the suspect’s family and school peers. This comprehensive approach seeks to construct a complete picture of the explosion’s underlying causes. “We are currently in the phase of compiling all available information, and we hope to release our findings without significant delay,” he added.
Authorities also expressed hope for the suspect’s swift recovery, as direct testimony would be instrumental in clarifying the true motive behind the incident. “The alleged perpetrator’s condition is steadily improving, which we hope will facilitate our process when the time comes to gather his statement,” General Prabowo concluded.
Victims Suffer Hearing Damage, Suspect Undergoes Surgery
In a related development, the Jakarta Health Agency (Dinkes DKI) reported that a significant number of victims from the SMAN 72 explosion have suffered hearing impairment, highlighting the severe impact of the blast.
Further details regarding the suspect emerged from Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, who disclosed the alleged perpetrator is 17 years old. Dasco, however, refrained from revealing the teenager’s identity, deferring to official police announcements. “He is 17 years old; details about his identity will be conveyed by the competent authorities or the police to media colleagues,” Dasco clarified.
The suspect reportedly sustained severe injuries in the explosion he allegedly orchestrated and was undergoing intensive surgery. “I received information that the perpetrator is still in surgery,” Dasco confirmed, aligning with earlier reports of the suspect’s critical condition.
The Day of the Blast: Eyewitness Accounts Detail Chaos
The explosion at SMA Negeri 72 Jakarta, located on Jalan Prihatin, Kelapa Gading Barat, North Jakarta, shattered the peace on Friday, November 7, 2025. The incident occurred dramatically during Friday prayers, according to accounts from a mathematics teacher at the school, relayed by Mohamad Yohan, Head of the Data and Information Center (Kapusdatin) of the DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).
“When the Friday sermon was underway, a sudden, loud explosion was heard from the rear of the auditorium,” Yohan stated in his official release on Friday, November 7, 2025.
Eyewitness Totong corroborated this, recounting the blast around 12:00 PM WIB while students and teachers were performing Friday prayers in the school mosque. “I was performing Friday prayers, in the front row, when it just exploded. Everyone immediately scattered and ran out because they were scared,” Totong vividly described on Friday, November 7, 2025.
Totong further revealed hearing three distinct, powerful explosions from various directions, both inside and outside the school premises. He emphasized that these blasts were sequential, not simultaneous. “The explosions were not simultaneous. After one point, then another. The sound intervals were short,” he explained.
Following the succession of three explosions, Totong recalled that congregants swiftly contacted ambulances and law enforcement. Ambulances quickly arrived, and he witnessed dozens of injured individuals being transported to Rumah Sakit Islam Cempaka Putih for urgent medical attention. “Victims were taken to RS Islam Cempaka Putih,” he confirmed.
Shockwaves at SMAN 72: Teen Suspect Named, Police Probe Dark Influences Behind Campus Blast