BGN Building Manager Says Glass Breakage Not the First Incident

The building manager, Martin, said the shattering of glass at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) building in Central Jakarta was not a new occurrence. According to Martin, similar incidents have happened several times since 2018 and are suspected to have been caused by thermal expansion.

“This building has glass shattering once every one to two years, without fail. There is proof of it. Glass on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th floors has shattered before, and we replaced it. We suspect thermal expansion,” Martin said at the BGN building in Central Jakarta on Thursday (9/7/2026).

Martin denied that the incident was related to any act of terror or shooting. He emphasised that the glass shattered due to thermal expansion.

“No, there was no terror,” he said.

He said the glass used was tempered glass, so when it breaks it leaves a pattern of small dotted fragments. He said this pattern matched previous incidents.

“The glass is like tempered glass. It’s tempered, so when it breaks there are always dots,” he said.

Martin said similar incidents had occurred since 2018. Several panes that had previously shattered had even been fitted with window film as a mitigation measure to prevent fragments from falling immediately.

“Yes, it happened in 2018-2019, there’s proof of it. The panes with window film were fitted as a precaution, that’s on record,” he said.

Martin said he had called a vendor to replace the shattered glass. Going forward, he said, panes in sections not yet fitted with window film would also receive it as a measure to improve safety.

“It’s a preventive measure, isn’t it? We never know when a mishap will strike — who can tell? I go to work and come home not knowing what accident might befall me on the road. That’s why we always do this, for safety: the glass upstairs has been fitted with window film, so if it breaks it doesn’t shatter immediately. It just so happens the glass down here hasn’t been given window film yet, so it fell straight away,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Head of the General Affairs Division at BGN, Naryana, said the shattered glass was discovered at around 11.30 Western Indonesia Time (WIB). He confirmed there were no casualties in the incident.

“At around half past eleven, twelve o’clock. No one was hurt,” Naryana said.

Naryana said he would coordinate with the building owner regarding the condition of the BGN building, adding that his side would reassess the building’s condition.

“We will try to identify it again. After all, we installed the protective window film earlier as part of safety measures. If this really is dangerous, then other related maintenance measures can be taken,” he said.

Earlier, detikcom observations at the scene on Thursday (9/7) at 14.36 WIB showed the front glass of the BGN building had shattered. Glass fragments were scattered across the front grounds.

Black and yellow tape cordoned off the area. An Inafis vehicle was also present at the BGN building.

A number of police officers were seen processing the crime scene (TKP). Other officers were stationed in front of the BGN building. Police said the glass was suspected to have shattered due to hot weather.

“Glass shattered at the BGN building. The breakage is suspected to have been caused by the hot temperatures outside and the use of air conditioning inside, causing expansion that made the glass break,” said Chief of the Central Jakarta Metro Police, Commissioner Reynold EP Hutagalung, when contacted for confirmation on Thursday (9/7).