Over 50 Injured in Explosions at Jakarta School Mosque; Firearms and Suspicious Items Found at Scene

Jakarta, November 7: At least 54 people, including students and teachers, were injured after a series of explosions rocked a school mosque in North Jakarta during Friday prayers, according to Indonesian media reports.

The blasts occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time (0530 GMT) at the State Senior High School 72 mosque, local outlet Jakarta Globe reported, citing police sources.

Authorities said most of the victims sustained minor injuries caused by shattered glass and the shockwaves from the explosions. No fatalities have been reported so far.

Police immediately cordoned off the area as bomb squads and forensic teams conducted a detailed inspection of the scene.

Investigators discovered two firearms at the site, a long-barreled rifle and a pistol, along with several suspicious items resembling components of a homemade explosive device and a remote-control detonator, according to Indonesian broadcaster tvOne.

Authorities said the long-barreled firearm bore several disturbing inscriptions, including The name “Brenton Tarrant” refers to the Australian gunman who carried out the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack in New Zealand. The phrase “Welcome to Hell.” The year “1189” marks the start of the Third Crusade. The name “Alexandre Bissonnette” is the perpetrator of the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting. A reference to “Agartha,” a conspiracy theory suggesting the existence of advanced beings secretly ruling the Earth.

Police said the cause of the explosions has not yet been determined.

“An elite team from the Anti-Terror Detachment 88 has been deployed to examine whether this incident involved the deliberate use of explosive materials or links to a terrorist network,” said Mayndra Eka Wardhana, spokesperson for the anti-terror unit.

“Our team is carefully analyzing all evidence, including the firearms and suspected explosive components,” he added.

Authorities have not ruled out any motives, though early reports suggest that the inscriptions and the nature of the weapons point to possible extremist inspiration.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as smoke filled the mosque during Friday prayers. “We heard two loud explosions, and people started running,” said one student quoted by Jakarta Globe.

Classes at the school have been suspended, and nearby mosques have been placed under heightened security as investigators continue their work.

The National Police have urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information while the investigation is ongoing.