Indonesian Student Arrested for Sharing Explosive-Making Tips

West Java Police Detain Student Over Alleged Explosives and Firearms Tutorials

Tempatdonasi.com – A college student identified as MSA has been arrested in West Java over allegations that he created, tested, and circulated instructions on assembling explosives and firearms through social media.

Police say the case centers on MSA’s activity in a WhatsApp group called “True Crime Community,” where he used the alias “Pseudo Vampire.” The group allegedly included 28 other people from different regions and was being monitored through cyber patrols because of suspected links to an international network.

Grand Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan, head of public relations for the West Java Regional Police, said MSA played an active role in encouraging serious criminal behavior within the group.

“He serves as a motivator for extreme crimes,” Hendra said in a written statement on Friday, September 18, 2026.

Police Allege Repeated Testing

The investigation found that MSA had not merely shared material with other group members. He is also accused of conducting trials involving the substances and devices he discussed online. Police said he appeared to be seeking recognition from others as someone with specialist knowledge.

“The suspect aimed to be regarded and recognized as an expert,” Hendra said.

Investigators said MSA carried out at least 40 tests using low-explosive materials. They also allege that he conducted 16 tests involving high-explosive bombs. The reported number of trials has become a central part of the police case, as it suggests activity extending beyond online discussion alone.

Superintendent Rikky Aries Setiawan, who leads Sub-Directorate I at the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the West Java Regional Police, said MSA had explored formulas for explosive materials and firearm construction since junior high school.

Rikky said the student learned independently through tutorial videos available on YouTube. Police believe he drew inspiration from earlier acts of terrorism, including the pressure-cooker bombing in Andir, Bandung.

“Inspired by previous real terror events, one of them being the pressure cooker bombing in Andir, Bandung,” Rikky said.

Items Seized During the Investigation

Authorities said they secured a range of objects and materials during the investigation. The seized evidence includes mortar ammunition measuring 8.8 centimeters in diameter and 44 centimeters long, along with 50 empty rounds, projectiles, and live 5.5-millimeter-caliber bullets.

Police also took custody of chemicals suspected of being intended for explosive-making, grenade casings, three assembled firearms, a firearm trigger, and a bow and arrow. Several books believed to be connected to MSA’s alleged extremist activities were also seized.

The range of items cited by investigators illustrates why the case is being handled as more than a matter of troubling online posts. Tutorials concerning explosive devices and weapons can create immediate safety concerns when paired with access to materials, repeated experimentation, or an audience that may seek to imitate them.

Online groups can also make it easier for dangerous ideas to circulate among people in different locations. In this case, the alleged WhatsApp activity is under scrutiny not only for the content shared but also for its potential role in building interest and confidence around violent acts.

Criminal Charges

MSA faces allegations under Articles 306, 246, and/or 247 of the Criminal Code in connection with the unlawful possession of explosive materials and firearms. Police have also linked the case to allegations of incitement under Articles 246 and 247.

The legal process will determine whether the allegations can be proven in court. For now, the arrest highlights the continuing challenge for law-enforcement agencies monitoring digital spaces where material related to weapons, explosives, and extreme violence may be exchanged.

Authorities have emphasized that public safety concerns do not begin only when an attack occurs. The investigation into MSA focuses on the alleged preparation, testing, circulation of instructions, and efforts to gain standing within an online community interested in serious crime.

For readers, the case is also a reminder that seemingly private online conversations can carry real-world consequences when they involve instructions or experimentation related to explosives and firearms. Digital anonymity, including the use of a pseudonym, does not prevent investigators from tracing activity when there is evidence of potential criminal conduct.