Police: Student Who Brought Bomb to MAN 3 Padang Not Affiliated with Terrorist Networks

A 17-year-old student with the initial R brought a homemade bomb that was detonated at Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) 3 Padang, West Sumatra. Police have stated that R is not affiliated with any terrorist network. “Updates from the information indicate that this incident has no connection to terrorist networks as we might imagine,” said the Head of Public Relations of the West Sumatra Regional Police, Commissioner Susmelawati Rosya, when contacted by journalists on Thursday (16/7/2026). She said R is currently undergoing psychological rehabilitation. The police are coordinating with local government organisations regarding R’s recovery. “So, we also need to rehabilitate this child psychologically so that he is not further exposed. Currently, the Police Chief has coordinated and collaborated with local government organisations for the victim’s recovery and rehabilitation. This is the main priority,” she said. Susmelawati explained that the examination of R is still ongoing, but the police are currently focusing on R’s recovery. “The examination is currently underway. There has been no determination (of status) or anything yet, because the current focus is on the victim’s recovery. Psychological recovery or assistance for the victim is the top priority,” she said. “Secondly, there is also recovery for the schoolchildren. So, trauma healing was carried out yesterday by the Sector Police Chief at the school. As the leadership conveyed yesterday, this child is still young, 17 years old, and he has been exposed,” she added. The homemade bomb explosion occurred on Tuesday (14/7) at MAN 3, Balai Gadang Village, Koto Tengah District, Padang City. The spokesperson for the National Police’s Densus 88 counter-terrorism unit, Commissioner Mayndra Eka, explained that the object suspected to be a homemade bomb was first discovered by a school security officer. There were no fatalities in the incident. Police stated that R was often a victim of bullying by his friends. “That’s correct, he was a victim of bullying. Due to psychological pressure, he was often the object of ridicule by his friends, so he did that,” said the Head of Public Relations of the West Sumatra Regional Police, Commissioner Susmelawati Rosya, when contacted by journalists.