JAKARTA, Nov 7: Indonesian police confirmed that 54 people were hospitalized after an explosion struck a mosque in North Jakarta during Friday prayers. The blast occurred inside a school complex in Kelapa Gading, a busy district of the capital.
City police chief Asep Edi Suheri told reporters in a televised briefing that the cause of the explosion remains under investigation. He said the injured suffered a range of wounds, from minor cuts to serious burns, and emergency posts have been set up at hospitals to assist families searching for relatives.
Television channels KompasTV and MetroTV broadcast live images from the scene, showing ambulances lined up outside the school and police cordoning off the area. Despite the number of casualties, footage of the mosque revealed no major structural damage.
Reuters reported that Indonesia’s security services, including specialized police units, have been deployed to examine the site and collect evidence. Officials have not yet indicated whether the blast was accidental or deliberate.
The incident has unsettled residents in Jakarta, where mosques are central to community life and Friday prayers typically draw large crowds. Authorities have urged calm while investigations continue.