ISSN 2477-1686
Vol. 12 No. 49 Januari 2026
Loneliness & Lone Violent Action at SMAN 72 Jakarta: Mission or Solution?
By:
Any Rufaedah
Department of Psychology Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Indonesia &
Division for Applied Social Psychology Research (DASPR)
The explosion at State High School 72 in North Jakarta (SMAN 72 Jakarta) on November 7, 2025 has left the Indonesian public reeling, especially since it was allegedly carried out by a 17-year-old student. It was the first case of a bombing in Indonesia perpetrated by a teenager. The suspect targeted the school community gathered for Friday prayer at the school mosque, resulting in injuries to 96 individuals (Salsabila & Maulana, 2025). Authorities discovered seven explosive devices planted in several locations around the school, four of which detonated while the others were not triggered. According to Iman Imanuddin, a representative from the Jakarta Polda Metro Jaya police department, the boy purchased the bomb-making materials online and assembled the devices himself. This information was revealed during a televised talk show Rosi on November 13 (KompasTV, 2025).
The suspect inscribed the names of six infamous foreign attackers, including Brenton Tarrant, the 2019 New Zealand mass shooter, on a replica gun. The SMAN 72 incident closely resembles Tarrant's attack, targeting a mosque during Friday prayer, and featuring a replica gun adorned with the names of notable assailants. He was also seen wearing military-style boots and carrying a backpack, reminiscent of Tarrant's attire when he targeted the Friday prayer congregation. The main difference lies in the nature of their attacks: while Tarrant carried out a mass shooting, the current schoolboy opted for a bombing. This student's choice reflects a blend of bombing tactics and a mimicry of Tarrant's operation in terms of style and attributes. This decision could be seen as logical, given the difficulty of acquiring a gun in Indonesia, while materials for making explosives are readily available in chemical stores and online marketplaces.
The incident raises numerous questions, ranging from the motive behind the attack to the circumstances that pushed the student to commit such an act of violence. An investigation by Polda Metro Jaya uncovered notes from the student that expressed feelings of loneliness and experiences of alleged bullying. He frequently accessed dark websites featuring graphic content and reportedly absorbed violent ideas from online platforms (KompasTV, 2025). Compounding these issues, his parents are divorced, and his mother currently works abroad (KumparanNews, 2025). Reports suggest that the student was likely driven by a combination of factors: lack of parental attention, feelings of isolation, bullying, and easy access to violent material. But how could these elements culminate in an act of violence?
In many instances, attackers have been found to be victims of psychological issues such as social rejection and bullying. For example, Mohammed Emwazi, also known as Jihadi John—a well-known Kuwaiti-British jihadist—experienced bullying during his school years (Gardner, 2015). He became involved in a street gang in London (Jihadi John linked to, 2015) before moving to Syria to participate in the Islamic State (ISIS/IS) in 2013 (Casciani, 2015).
For many individuals, engaging in crime and joining violent organizations can seem like a solution to their personal voids. Not all acts of violence stem from political motives; often, they arise from a desire to fill a perceived "hole" in their lives. Studies have shown that those who turn to violent extremism frequently seek a sense of significance (Jasko et al., 2009), often driven by feelings of humiliation, a loss of status, uncertain future prospects, and other contributing factors (Doosje, 2016). They also look for a way to make a meaningful impact (Rufaedah, 2020).
In the case of SMAN 72, the suspected perpetrator appeared to act independently rather than as part of a specific group. So far, he has not been linked to any pro-violence organizations, even though he imitated Brenton Tarrant in terms of style and message. However, issues like bullying, neglect by parents, and feelings of loneliness likely pushed him to seek fulfillment through darker paths. Tragically, he found this fulfillment on dark websites that promote violence. By carrying out the attack, he may have hoped to gain recognition and glorification from online communities he frequented. For someone who feels unnoticed in real life, validation from online platforms can feel incredibly valuable, often leading individuals to conform to community expectations.
Beyond questions about motive and the psychological factors involved, it is also crucial to explore why the boy chose the mosque, along with his schoolmates and teachers, as his targets.
References:
Casciani, D. (2015, November 13). Islamic State: Profile of Mohammed Emwazi aka 'Jihadi John'. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31641569
Doosje, B. et. al. (2016). Terrorism, radicalization and de-radicalization. Current Opinion in Psychology, 11, 79-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.06.008
Gardner, B. (2015, March 2). Jihadi John was bullied at school and did not have many friends, former headteacher says. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11444028/Jihadi-John-was-bullied-at-school-and-did-not-have-many-friends-former-headteacher-says.html
Jasko, K., Lafree, G., & Kruglanski, A. (2017). Quest for significance and violent extremism: The case of domestic radicalization. Political Psychology, 38(3), 815-831. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12376.
KompasTV. (2025, November 13). Polisi Temukan Catatan Pribadi Pelaku Ledakan SMAN 72 Jakarta, Apa Motifnya? | ROSI [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTYq9VdQgic
KumparanNews. (2025, November 8). Profil siswa SMAN 72 yang rumahnya digeledah: Ortu bercerai, ibu TKW di Taiwan. Kumparan. https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/profil-siswa-sman-72-yang-rumahnya-digeledah-ortu-bercerai-ibu-tkw-di-taiwan-26ChpSnGzW5
Jihadi John linked to shadowy London street gang. (2015, March 2). NBC News.
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/jihadi-john-linked-shadowy-london-street-gang-n315646
Rufaedah, A. (2020, September 5). Tangga menjadi teroris: Cerita mantan teroris dari kelompok moderat ke ekstremis. Buletin Konsorsium Psikologi Ilmiah Nusantara (KPIN), 6(17). https://buletin.k-pin.org/index.php/arsip-artikel/706-tangga-menjadi-teroris-cerita-mantan-teroris-dari-kelompok-moderat-ke-ekstremis
Salsabila, H. & Maulana, A. H. (2025, November 11). Total korban ledakan SMAN 72 Jakarta capai 96 orang. Kompas. https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2025/11/11/19485431/total-korban-ledakan-sman-72-jakarta-capai-96-orang.
Tempodotco. (2025, November 13). Tujuh bom di SMAN 72 Jakarta | Tukang Kupas Perkara [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcaAdErAsQg
