East Java Police Find Chemical Materials in the Explosion of a Mosque in Jember

East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto / ANTARA / Zumrotun Solichah

JAKARTA - The East Java Regional Police (Polda) team found a number of chemicals after processing the crime scene (TKP) in the explosion incident that occurred at the Pesona Grand Mosque which is located in the Pesona Raya Regency Housing area, Patrang Village, Jember Regency, East Java, Tuesday.

"We need to be thorough and not rush into conducting an investigation so that the results are accurate because there are allegations of materials from chemical substances at the location, so the process of taking evidence requires special equipment, so it requires thoroughness and accuracy," said East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 17.

According to him, a joint team from the Bomb Disposal Team (Jibom), the Forensic Laboratory Team (Labfor), and the General Criminal Investigation (Reskrimum) are working to conduct an investigation into the incident by conducting an investigation at the scene of the explosion in the mosque.

"Although there were no casualties in the incident, we still investigate to find out what caused the explosion and the steps according to procedures have been taken," he said.

He explained that the police had secured and sterilized the location of the explosion so that it was not approached by residents by placing a police line, then carried out crime scene investigation involving a joint team, and collected evidence.

When asked what evidence was secured, Nanang was reluctant to answer in detail because all teams were still working to investigate the cause of the explosion, but all items around the explosion were used as evidence.

"We have also examined a number of witnesses around the location who know about the explosion, even coordination with institutions including the RT and RW Chairmen has been carried out," he said.

He said scientific proof would answer the cause of the explosion after an in-depth investigation of the case and his party also secured CCTV footage around the mosque to provide clues to investigators.

"We are still investigating the liquid in the jerigen and the initial suspicion of the explosion came from the safe. We can't say when the results of the crime scene will come out, but the East Java Police are trying as quickly as possible," he said.

A mysterious explosion occurred at a mosque in the Perumahan Pesona Raya Regency area in Patrang Village / Subdistrict, Jember Regency during the tarawih prayer on Monday evening (16/03) at around 20.00 WIB.

The explosion caused one worshipper to be rushed to the Emergency Unit (UGD) of the RSD dr Soebandi Jember because of hearing loss due to the loud explosion and several buildings in the mosque were damaged such as the ceiling, rooster and cabinets.