Densus 88 Investigates Motive of Padang Student Who Assembled and Detonated Homemade Bomb

The Indonesian National Police’s counter-terrorism unit, Densus 88, together with the West Sumatra Regional Police, is continuing its investigation into an explosion that occurred at Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) 3 Padang on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. A student with the initials RGJ, aged 17, is suspected of assembling the homemade bomb that triggered the blast within the school grounds.

Densus 88 spokesperson, Senior Commissioner Mayndra Eka Wardhana, stated that the case began when a school security officer discovered a suspicious object around 11:30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time. The item was secured and reported to the police. During the initial examination, officers confiscated several items believed to be linked to the bomb assembly, including a black box, a black bag, a mobile phone, firecrackers, a knife, arrows, marbles, bolts, and other objects.

Preliminary investigations pointed to RGJ as the owner of the items. The student has since been detained along with all the evidence for further questioning. According to Mayndra, the suspect’s initial confession revealed that he learned how to make explosives via the internet and was inspired by a bombing incident at a senior high school in Jakarta in 2025. The motive behind the alleged action is still being investigated by the team.

Mayndra further emphasised that investigators are still probing the motive and are also working to identify the person the suspect claims was the intended target. This information currently relies solely on the suspect’s initial statement. The investigation also found that the device was assembled by RGJ at his home using materials purchased online without his parents’ knowledge. The suspect also admitted to joining several online groups discussing the manufacture of explosives, though all these claims are still subject to verification by investigators.