Mysterious Explosion Shakes Mosque in Jember, Police Deploy Bomb Disposal Team

An unexplained explosion occurred at a mosque in the Pesona Regency residential area in Patrang District, Jember Regency, East Java during evening prayers on Monday, 16 March 2026.

The blast caused no fatalities but resulted in significant damage to the mosque’s ceiling and roof, causing panic among worshippers performing tarawih prayers and residents in the surrounding area.

“The explosion was quite loud and could be heard in neighbouring villages,” said the mosque’s caretaker, Muhammad Fadil, in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to him, the explosion occurred at approximately 19:30 Western Indonesian Time during tarawih prayers, prompting many congregation members to rush out of the mosque. “One person was taken to the emergency unit at dr Soebandi General Hospital with suspected hearing damage,” he said.

He explained that the blast occurred near the male ablution area, damaging the mosque’s ceiling and bookshelves. Meanwhile, Jember Police Criminal Investigation Head AKP Angga Riatma stated that police responded immediately upon receiving reports from residents.

“Police immediately secured the location and began investigating the cause of the explosion,” he said in the early hours of Tuesday.

He indicated that officers immediately established a perimeter around the mosque and urged residents not to approach the area as Jember Police deployed a bomb disposal team.

“We cannot yet conclude what caused the explosion and are still processing the crime scene,” he said.

Police established a security cordon around the mosque and requested mosque authorities to temporarily suspend all activities at the premises for safety reasons.