Man Arrested for Sending Bomb Threat to South Jakarta Elementary School, Claims It Was a Prank

Police have apprehended a 34-year-old man identified by the initials MY for sending a bomb threat to SDN Srengseng Sawah 15 Pagi, an elementary school in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta. The incident occurred on the first day of the school's orientation period (MPLS).

According to Kombes Iman Imannudin, Director of General Criminal Investigation at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, the suspect's initial motive appears to be a prank. "Based on the suspect's statement, he did it just for fun," Imannudin told CNN Indonesia TV on Monday. However, he added that the police are continuing their investigation into the suspect's claims and that he is currently undergoing intensive examination at the South Jakarta Metro Police.

The police plan to coordinate with Densus 88 Antiteror (the national counter-terrorism unit) to delve deeper into the suspect's background. Previously, the bomb threat disrupted the school's MPLS activities. Kompol Nurma Dewi, Head of the Jagakarsa Police, confirmed that students were sent home and the school premises were secured after a comprehensive sweep by Gegana (bomb squad), Densus 88, the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), and K9 units.

Screenshots of the message show the perpetrator sent the threat twice, warning that the school would explode within minutes and that "11 points" had been prepared. The suspect also made a miscall when his initial message went unanswered. Despite the scare, authorities have declared the school safe after a four-hour search.