JAKARTA, Indonesia – Authorities have revealed new details about the student suspected of orchestrating last week’s mosque explosion in Jakarta, confirming that the act was fueled by revenge and inspired by previous mass killings carried out by white supremacists and neo-Nazi extremists.
The violent incident occurred during Friday prayers at a mosque within a school complex in the Kelapa Gading area of Indonesia’s capital, leaving 96 people injured.
During a press briefing on Tuesday (Nov 11), police disclosed that seven homemade bombs were discovered in and around the mosque — several concealed inside Coca-Cola cans. Some of the explosives were remotely detonated, while others were fuse-triggered; three devices, however, failed to explode.
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Investigators also recovered a toy gun with disturbing inscriptions, including one that read “vengeance.”
Police confirmed that the suspect is a 17-year-old student from a neighboring school. Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri referred to the individual as a “child facing the law”, in line with Indonesian legal protocol for minors.
According to Mayndra Eka Wardhana, a senior officer with Indonesia’s anti-terrorism unit, the teenage suspect acted alone and was primarily driven by anger and emotional isolation.
“The suspect was inspired by white supremacist and neo-Nazi attacks and had joined online communities that glorify extreme violence,” Wardhana said. “He did not appear to follow a specific ideology or belong to any militant network.”
Authorities believe the teen drew inspiration from tragic incidents such as the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand and the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the United States.
“Those attacks motivated the suspect,” Wardhana added. “He felt he had no one to confide in — not his family nor his school.”
Police confirmed that the teenager sustained a head injury during the explosions and has since undergone surgery. He is now recovering under police supervision as investigations continue.
Officials emphasized that security has been tightened in schools and religious centers across Jakarta as authorities probe the suspect’s digital communications and possible influences.
