Elite North Jakarta Intercultural School Threatened with Bombing via WhatsApp, Suspect Demands Bitcoin

JAKARTA - Another bomb threat has been launched at the elite North Jakarta Intercultural School (NJIS) on Jalan Bukit Gading Raya, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

The bomb threat was sent by an unknown person to NJIS via WhatsApp.

The message also demanded a ransom of USD30,000 via crypto. The sender of the threat used the country code for Nigeria.

Kelapa Gading Police Chief, Commissioner Seto Handoko Putra, stated that the incident began on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at around 5:09 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB). The NJIS school marketing number received a message from +2349165620857.

The WhatsApp message contained a threat: "A message for everyone. We have bombs in your school. The bombs are set to go off in 45 minutes. If you do not agree, pay USD30,000 to our Bitcoin address below: 17TbltoK4kojSn4sSogJuZgRzvTx1Qi4XT."

"If you do not send the money! We will blow up the device immediately. Call the police, we will blow up the device on the spot," the message read.

The school then contacted security regarding the bomb threat on Tuesday night. The report was then forwarded to the Kelapa Gading Police.

Then, the Bomb Disposal Team (Jibom) from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police's Bomb Squad (Gegana) and the North Jakarta Metropolitan Police conducted a search at NJIS on Wednesday, October 8, at around 8:00 a.m. WIB.

A total of 21 Gegana personnel were deployed to the location.

"The search included the reception area, classrooms, laboratories, the principal's office, the outdoor area, the cafeteria, the lobby, and the playground," said Police Commissioner Seto on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

The detection tools used included a mirror scanner, a handheld metal detector, a Kerberr, an EXMH 7000, a searchlight, and a videoscope.

The search was also attended by the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the North Jakarta Metro Police, Police Commissioner Onkoseno. The team found no dangerous objects.

"At 9:30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time, the search by the Bomb Disposal Team (Jibom) of the PMJ Gegana Detachment was declared complete and safe," he said.