Molotov Thrower Who Hit Wrong Target in Koja Now on the Run

The perpetrator who threw a Molotov cocktail, mistakenly hitting a mother carrying her child in Koja, North Jakarta, has fled his home. Police are now hunting for those responsible for the attack.

The incident occurred on Jalan Mandiri II, Koja, on Monday (22/6) at around 09.00 WIB. CCTV footage shows a Molotov cocktail being thrown near a house. The device exploded as a mother riding a motorcycle with her child passed by. She subsequently crashed into a resident’s wall while trying to avoid the blast and fell.

Koja Police Chief Kompol Andry Suharto stated that four individuals were involved in the Molotov cocktail attack. Investigations have identified the thrower by the initial M. Police revealed that M has an ex-wife, identified as R, and M was reportedly unable to accept that R had a new boyfriend, identified as U. Ironically, according to police, M also already has a new partner.

M is said to have targeted U’s family, specifically U’s uncle, identified as K. The man K was the actual target of the Molotov cocktail at the scene. He is the man seen in the CCTV footage holding a mobile phone near a house. “M was jealous of R and U. His jealousy was misplaced, targeting U’s family. In the video, you can see a man sitting and holding a phone, that is U’s uncle, initial K,” said Andry.

In the CCTV recording, K is seen wearing a blue shirt. He dodged when the Molotov exploded nearby. K and several other people then ran after the perpetrator who threw the Molotov. At the same time, the mother carrying her child passed by the scene. The Molotov explosion nearly set her motorcycle on fire.

“The perpetrator came to K’s house again, shouting from a distance. The Molotov was thrown at K, but missed and landed on the road. Then the mother on the motorcycle passed by. The mother did not know the perpetrator or anyone there. The perpetrator intended to throw it at K, but missed, and the mother was passing by,” he explained. The mother and child then fell after hitting a resident’s wall when the Molotov exploded right beside them. Andry stated that the mother and child did not suffer any burns.

“One person threw the Molotov, but when he arrived, he was with about three friends. Only one person threw it,” he said, adding that all four perpetrators are being hunted.

Police have visited the home of M, the suspected Molotov thrower in Koja, but the perpetrator was not at his residence. “The perpetrator’s house and other locations have been visited. Still no results and we are expanding the search to other places,” said Kompol Andry. He confirmed that police have identified the perpetrators and investigators are currently pursuing them. “They are still being chased,” he said. Andry noted that while only one person threw the Molotov, M brought three friends with him to the scene.