[Today’s Prayer] Multiple explosions rock a mosque during Friday prayers at a Jakarta high school — 54 people injured, 17-year-old male student the suspect

In Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, a series of explosions occurred inside a high school mosque, injuring 54 people.

Police are investigating whether the suspect, a 17-year-old male student, carried out the attack in revenge after being bullied, and whether there is any link between the attack and the white-supremacist or anti-Islamic phrases written on his toy gun.

According to AP, AFP, and Reuters on the 8th (local time), the explosions took place around 12:15 p.m. the previous day at the mosque located in SMA 72 high school in northern Jakarta.

As a result, 54 people including students were injured, and 33 of them were hospitalized with lacerations from glass fragments and burns, police said.

(omitted)

Indonesia’s National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said at a press conference that the suspect, a 17-year-old student from a nearby school, was also injured in the blast and underwent surgery in hospital, and that investigations are underway into his identity, background, and motive.

Police said they seized the suspect’s toy submachine gun at the scene, on which were written phrases such as “14 words” and “Brenton Tarrant: Welcome to Hell.”

The “14 words” is a white-supremacist slogan meaning “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” and Brenton Tarrant was the anti-Islamic terrorist who killed 51 people in attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March 2019.

Source: AP News

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Heavenly Father, we hear the heartbreaking news that in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, explosions occurred inside a high school mosque, injuring 54 people.

Have mercy on the students and souls who, without any chance to defend themselves, were hurt and terrified by the sudden blasts.

We see that the perpetrator sympathized with Brenton Tarrant, the anti-Islamic terrorist, and expressed anti-Islamic views. As we witness the name of the gunman who carried out a massacre at mosques written on a toy gun used in this incident, we fear that such things could stir tension between Christians and Muslims. Lord, we ask You to reign and intervene.

The suspect reportedly committed the act after being bullied. Yet before You, Lord, could wounds and injustice ever justify sin? We see how human pain can grow into vengeance and destruction.

Have mercy on this student who did not know how to bring his pain before You. Grant him the chance to confess and repent before the Lord. May his wounds be healed through You, and may he turn from vengeance to repentance for all the evil acts committed.

Let the distorted ideologies of hatred and discrimination in Indonesia be broken in the next generation, and may the nation walk in eternal peace in Christ Jesus.

We pray that the Indonesian church will reach the next generation with the gospel and love, teaching them to obey Your Word, so that they may receive mercy and boldly approach the throne of grace to find help in time of need.

May the next generation of Indonesia rise up as a mighty force among the ASEAN million army, carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nations!