- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 19 Nov 2025 02:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A 17-year-old Indonesian student accused of bombing his school mosque during Friday prayers in Jakarta was driven by profound loneliness, online radicalisation and a desire to harm himself and others, according to chilling details revealed by police on Wednesday.
The early-November explosions tore through the mosque courtyard just as students lined up for prayers, injuring 96 people and scattering prayer mats, sandals and shattered glass across the compound. Four of the seven homemade bombs detonated, while three others failed to explode.
The teenager, who is still in hospital after undergoing two surgeries, is being treated under Indonesia’s juvenile justice system and has not been formally identified. Police say he acted entirely alone.
Loner Consumed By Violent Content
Jakarta Police Director of General Criminal Investigation Iman Imanuddin described the suspect as a withdrawn boy who had no emotional outlet and spent hours consuming extremist and violent content online. “This boy felt alone and had no place to express his complaints, not to his family, community or at school,” Imanuddin said.
Investigators found the student was active on an international Telegram group that glorified white supremacist attacks, including the Christchurch mosque shootings and the Columbine massacre. Police said the content he consumed played a key role in motivating the attack.
Telegram stated that such material violates its policies and claimed its systems remove millions of posts daily. Google has not commented on bomb-making videos that remained accessible on YouTube.
The ‘Diary Reb’: Plans, Pain And Chosen Date
During a raid on his North Jakarta home, officers recovered a 42-page notebook titled Diary Reb, believed to mean “diary of struggle”. Written mostly in English, it contained sketches of the mosque, the school layout and markings showing where bombs would be planted. A handwritten date, 7 November, matched the day of the attack.
The diary also included emotional reflections, details of past trauma, and notes expressing suicidal intentions along with a desire to harm others. Police say the suspect intended to kill himself in the blast, but the device meant to end his life malfunctioned.
Homemade Weapons, Easy Access To Materials
The bombs were made using simple materials including 6-volt batteries, jerry cans, sharp nails, and items purchased through online marketplaces. Police admitted that the ease with which he acquired chemical components like potassium chloride highlights a worrying security gap.
Relatives told Reuters the boy came from a low-income household. His father worked as a cook, and the family lived in a shared two-storey home owned by his employer.
A relative, Rundiati, said the teen spent most of his time alone in his room. “He was always on his laptop … he became more withdrawn after his parents divorced,” she said.