Jakarta, Indonesia, November 7: At least 54 people, mostly students, were injured in multiple explosions at a mosque inside a high school in Jakarta during Friday prayers, police said. Witnesses reported hearing two loud blasts around midday as the sermon began at the mosque at SMA 27, a state high school located within a navy compound in the northern Kelapa Gading neighbourhood. Students and others ran out in panic as gray smoke filled the mosque.
Most victims suffered injuries from flying glass, ranging from minor to severe. Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri said the blasts originated near the mosque’s loudspeaker, but the cause is not yet known. “Police are still investigating the scene to determine the cause of the blasts,” he said, urging the public to avoid speculation before the investigation is complete. “Let the authorities work first. We will convey whatever the results are to the public.”
Emergency responders rushed the injured to nearby hospitals. While some victims were discharged, 20 students remain hospitalized, including three with serious injuries. An anti-bomb squad deployed at the scene found toy rifles and a toy gun near the mosque, Suheri said.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident and have not confirmed whether the explosions were accidental or deliberate.
