Pramono urges public not to panic over bomb threat, but remain vigilant

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo has urged the public not to panic but to remain vigilant in response to a bomb threat at SD Negeri Srengseng Sawah 15 Pagi in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, which coincided with the first day of school. Pramono stressed that the threat should not cause the community to be overcome by fear. However, he reminded all parties to continue to increase their alertness. “So, just because it’s the first day and someone is trying to scare us, we shouldn’t all become afraid. But we must remain vigilant about it,” Pramono stated at Jakarta City Hall on Monday. Pramono also requested that the authorities investigate the perpetrator’s motive for carrying out the terror at the school. He expressed hope that a similar incident would not occur again, either at that school or in other areas. Previously, a joint team from the Gegana bomb squad, the National Police’s Densus 88 counter-terrorism unit, and the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) confirmed that the school was safe after a sweep following the bomb threat. “After several hours, from Gegana, Densus 88, BNPT, and the sniffer dogs we called in from the first incident, we got the information. After it was finished, it was declared safe,” said Jagakarsa Police Chief Kompol Nurma Dewi. Nurma said the sweep was conducted for approximately four hours. As a result, no suspicious items were found in the school area. Although the first day of the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS) activities were immediately disbanded as a result of the incident, the South Jakarta Education Sub-department has confirmed that Teaching and Learning Activities (KBM) will resume as normal on Tuesday (14/7). The implementation of the teaching and learning process on Tuesday is also confirmed to have no special events, and all elements will blend in with the existing schedule in the school agenda. Furthermore, the South Jakarta Education Sub-department also confirmed there were no indications that students or teachers were traumatised by the incident.