Bomb Threat Suspect at South Jakarta School Had History of Terrorising Neighbours

The man arrested for sending a bomb threat to SDN Srengseng Sawah 15 Pagi in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, has a history of terrorising his neighbours. The suspect, identified by the initials MY, had previously sent similar threats to residents in his community.

According to Anton Sianipar, the head of the local neighbourhood unit (RT 03/RW 04), the 34-year-old suspect had sent bomb threats to a resident’s home several years ago. “A few years back, he sent a bomb threat to one of the residents’ homes,” Anton said on Wednesday.

Anton noted that the previous incidents were serious enough to involve the deployment of the Metro Jaya Police and local police to sweep the area. He also revealed that he had personally been a target of the suspect’s harassment. “My name was dragged through the mud. He spread rumours that I was harassing women in the neighbourhood, which was completely untrue,” Anton stated.

Despite these past incidents, Anton expressed shock at the latest threat, noting that the suspect was generally known to mingle normally with other residents. He added that the suspect is currently caring for his ailing wife and had recently lost his mother.

“The night before the incident, he was still chatting with me at the security post. There was no indication he would do something like this,” Anton said.

The bomb threat was made via a WhatsApp message sent to a teacher on the first day of the school’s orientation programme (MPLS). The message claimed that bombs had been planted at 11 locations within the school and warned staff not to report it to the police. Despite the warning, the school immediately alerted the authorities, who conducted a sweep and found no explosives. The suspect is currently being detained and charged under Article 601 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) for making threats. Police are still investigating the motive, though initial findings suggest the act was carried out as a prank.