The gravity of the recent SMAN 72 Jakarta explosion drew the attention of high-ranking officials, including Social Affairs Minister Syaifullah Yusuf. On Sunday, November 9, at 12:47 PM WIB, Minister Yusuf, widely known as Gus Ipul, arrived at the Jakarta Islamic Hospital (RSIJ) Cempaka Putih in Central Jakarta to visit the victims undergoing treatment. Dressed in a traditional white koko shirt and black peci, he disembarked from his black official car, bearing license plate B 1877ZZR.
Immediately upon his arrival, Gus Ipul was warmly received by RSIJ Cempaka Putih officials, who escorted him directly towards the hospital’s Emergency Room (ER) entrance. A throng of journalists, eagerly anticipating his presence, had already gathered. Briefly addressing them, the Minister stated, “Please wait, I will go inside first,” before proceeding to meet the explosion victims.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, November 7, at SMAN 72 in Kelapa Gading Barat, North Jakarta, saw a significant number of individuals affected. Fortunately, by Saturday, November 8, at 10:00 PM WIB, 67 victims had already been discharged from various hospitals and returned to their homes.
According to comprehensive data from the service post at Jakarta Islamic Hospital Cempaka Putih, a total of 96 individuals received medical attention as a direct consequence of the devastating explosion that rocked the school during Friday prayers.
While 67 patients had been cleared for discharge, a significant number, specifically 29 victims, remained under ongoing medical care at various hospitals located within the Cempaka Putih area.
A detailed breakdown shows that Jakarta Islamic Hospital (RSIJ) Cempaka Putih is currently caring for 14 patients, with another 14 patients receiving medical attention at Yarsi Hospital, highlighting the extensive medical response required.
Explosion Chronology
Friday, November 7, was tragically seared into the memories of students, teachers, and all personnel at SMAN 72 Jakarta, located in Kelapa Gading Barat, North Jakarta. The school day had unfolded routinely, with activities proceeding as planned, until the scheduled Friday prayers commenced within the school’s mosque.
A diverse congregation, including students, teachers, canteen staff, and school guards, gathered to perform the crucial Friday prayers at the very location where the incident would later occur. The sacred service began with profound solemnity, marked by the call to prayer (adhan) and the ascension of the khatib to the pulpit to deliver the Friday sermon.
Worshippers observed the prayers diligently, both within the mosque building and in the adjacent hallways, while a few late students were still performing ablutions outside. However, moments after the congregational prayer concluded, and just as the iqamah (the second call to prayer) was about to be announced, the serene atmosphere was violently shattered. The profound solemnity instantly gave way to a scene of utter hysteria and terror.
A deafening “BOOM!” ripped through the air. An initial explosion, believed to have originated from the heart of the building, was swiftly followed by another blast at the mosque’s entrance, plunging the tranquil setting into immediate chaos.
“We observed three objects, resembling homemade bombs, with cans and fuses, but only two of them detonated,” recounted Sela, a student at SMAN 72 who witnessed the harrowing event.
Sela further alleged that the attack was likely orchestrated by a fellow student, positing that the act was a desperate retaliation against relentless bullying.
“He was frequently a target of bullying,” she emphasized, shedding light on the potential motive.
Sela, who was in the hallway at the time, described the explosion as a “deafening roar” that instantly created a tumultuous scene. The blast left several students injured, with many reporting immediate disturbances to their sight and hearing.
Amidst the ensuing panic, Sela initially sought escape but then bravely turned back to aid her friends who were directly impacted. This selfless act was mirrored by other students and teachers who swiftly began evacuating their peers, while nearby residents also rushed into the school to offer crucial assistance.
In the immediate aftermath, dozens of individuals suffering from the effects of the explosion were rapidly transported to various hospitals across Jakarta to receive urgent medical attention.
The gravity of the situation prompted an immediate and robust response from authorities. The Metro Jaya Regional Police swiftly deployed specialized teams, including the Bomb Disposal Unit (Jibom) and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (Jihandak) unit, alongside other support teams, to the incident site. Officers quickly secured the area, commenced identification procedures, and launched a thorough investigation, processing the crime scene and interviewing numerous witnesses in an effort to unravel the intricate and “unfathomable” sequence of events.
Adding to the high-level response, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus arrived directly at the scene. Following his inspection, he was immediately enveloped by a throng of journalists who had maintained vigil since midday. He confirmed that the explosion occurred around 12:15 PM WIB, precisely as Friday prayers were being conducted.
Minister Paulus also addressed circulating videos that suggested the presence of a pistol at the site, clarifying that it was indeed a toy weapon. While acknowledging the presence of explosion victims, he firmly refuted any claims that the incident was a terrorist act, cautioning the public against making premature assumptions of terror.
He underscored the importance of allowing law enforcement to conduct their thorough investigation, assuring that their findings would be transparently communicated to the public in due time. “Therefore, let us simply await the official report,” he concluded.
In a significant pledge of support, DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung guaranteed that all hospital expenses for the SMAN 72 Jakarta explosion victims in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, would be fully borne by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.
“All costs associated with their medical treatment will be covered by the Provincial Government, irrespective of which hospital provides the care,” Governor Anung affirmed in Jakarta on Friday.
He further elaborated that this measure underscored the provincial government’s unwavering commitment and presence in supporting the victims. “All responsibility lies with us,” he declared, emphasizing the state’s full accountability.
Following his press conference, Governor Anung proceeded directly to the scene to personally assess the school’s condition. Arriving around 5:00 PM WIB, he was accompanied by North Jakarta Mayor Hendra Hidayat and immediately entered the premises to survey the damage.
Late on Friday night, a crucial press conference was convened by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, joined by State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. During the briefing, the National Police Chief revealed a significant breakthrough: a suspected perpetrator in the SMAN 72 Jakarta explosion had been identified by law enforcement. However, this individual was currently undergoing surgery in a hospital.
Due to his medical condition, the police confirmed that they could not yet interrogate the suspected individual until after the surgery and when his health had sufficiently stabilized for questioning.
“We have successfully identified the suspected perpetrator,” General Prabowo stated. “Our officers are currently conducting an in-depth investigation into the individual’s identity, background, including their residence, and other pertinent details that are actively being explored.”
General Prabowo further clarified that the suspected perpetrator was undergoing surgery, as was another victim of the blast. In total, two individuals required surgical intervention following the SMAN 72 Jakarta explosion, which took place within the TNI AL Housing Complex in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Friday afternoon at 12:15 PM WIB.
“One of the individuals currently undergoing surgery is indeed the suspected perpetrator,” Listyo affirmed. “Regarding the motive, we are diligently investigating a wide range of information. Our goal is to consolidate this data to provide a comprehensive and conclusive statement to the public at the appropriate time.”
Crucially, General Prabowo confirmed that no fatalities resulted from the explosion. During their meticulous examination of the blast site, police recovered key evidence, including a toy weapon and various written materials.
“These findings are integral to our ongoing investigation,” he concluded, “as we seek to fully comprehend the perpetrator’s motive and the precise methods used to assemble and execute this act.”
Summary
The SMAN 72 Jakarta explosion on Friday, November 7, at 12:15 PM WIB during Friday prayers, resulted in 96 individuals receiving medical attention. While 67 victims were discharged, 29 remained hospitalized at facilities like RSIJ Cempaka Putih and Yarsi Hospital; no fatalities were reported. Social Affairs Minister Syaifullah Yusuf visited the injured, and DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung guaranteed that all medical expenses for victims would be covered by the Provincial Government.
Police investigations revealed three homemade bomb-like objects, two of which detonated, and a toy weapon was also found at the scene. The National Police Chief identified a suspected perpetrator who was undergoing surgery, with a student witness alleging the incident was retaliation for bullying. Deputy Coordinating Minister Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus refuted terrorism claims, stating authorities are thoroughly investigating the motive and will provide official findings.
