Helmet, Terror, and a Midnight Message: The Story of a Depok Firefighter

Editor

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — A firefighter in Depok, Khairul Umam, claims to have received threats after uploading educational content about the function of helmets.

The content, which he intended as a safety and entertainment message, was misinterpreted by some, leading to threats via private message.

In the video he uploaded, Khairul explained that helmets are designed to protect the head, not to injure it.

Khairul says he received two threats via WhatsApp on Tuesday evening (24/2/2026) and Wednesday morning (25/2/2026).

The sender initially claimed to be a fan, both of his comedy and his work as a firefighter.

The conversation then took a turn, becoming a warning with threatening undertones.

“So, the threats were all on WhatsApp. As I mentioned in my story, he initially claimed to be a fan and so on,” said Khairul when contacted by Kompas.com on Wednesday (25/2/2026).

However, the messages were delivered in a tone that Khairul found unsettling.

“In the end, he said that I should wear a helmet, take care of my safety, and ask for permission from my parents,” said Khairul.

In subsequent messages, the sender made statements that made Khairul feel even more threatened.

“It was subtle, very subtle. He even said, ‘Just wait, I have a surprise for you,’” he said.

“Thankfully, my family is still safe for now. Although he did provide the complete address of my house and my wife’s house. Fortunately, he doesn’t know the address of my parents’ house. ‘Yes, but I know,’ he said, mentioning the names of my parents and my father,” said Khairul.