"Copycat" Behaviour Behind the Surge in Acid Attack Cases

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - In the last four months, there have been four acid attack cases in Jakarta and one in Bekasi. Three of them involved teenagers still in school.

Criminologist from the University of Indonesia, Adrianus Meliala, said that the repeated use of acid to attack people is a form of imitation (copycat).

“Because they must have heard it, heard, read the same things elsewhere and then, ‘wow, this is easy’,” Adrianus told Kompas.com on Monday (27/4/2026).

The reason is that acid or sulphuric acid has not yet been categorised as a prohibited substance in Indonesia.

He also explained that acid attack actions are always planned.

Starting from someone feeling inspired by posts or news reports, then buying the liquid, and then throwing it at the target.

This includes the acid attack that befell the Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, Andrie Yunus.

According to Adrianus, this action has a political element with a structured plan by professional individuals.

“That’s already planned, let alone those that are political. There must be a planned element,” he said.

Contacted separately, criminologist from UI Josias Simon said that the planning of acid attacks is usually triggered by feelings of resentment in interpersonal relationships.

Destruction to the victim’s body is the main goal of the perpetrator.

“Because he doesn’t kill, although in some cases it is indeed fatal. But in some other cases, it’s more about hurting,” he said when contacted separately.

Both urge strict supervision by the police, due to the absence of regulations prohibiting the sale of this substance.