Discovery of almost 1,000 weapons in Indonesian school fuels safety fears

An Indonesian minister has urged for enhanced student safety measures following the discovery of nearly 1,000 weapons at a private school in South Jakarta. The school, operated by the Harapan Ibu Islamic School Foundation, was searched by police who found 995 airsoft guns and a single live firearm. The foundation's former chair, whose name remains unidentified as IWD, is currently under interrogation.

IWD had previously been removed from their position due to accusations of misusing foundation funds. All of the weapons, alongside suspected narcotics and 25 pornographic CDs, were found in a room used by IWD during a recent clean-up. Untung Sangaji, a board member, expressed surprise at the weapons' presence on school grounds, emphasizing that airsoft guns can be lethal due to their plain bullets and lack of grooves.

Police have identified the live firearm as a Franchi SPAS-15 12-gauge combat shotgun belonging to an individual who passed away several years ago. A company linked to the Indonesian Shooting Association initially claimed ownership of the weapons, stating they were for sports and extracurricular activities. However, the school's lawyer contradicted this, claiming the school never had a shooting extracurricular.

Lawmaker Adang Daradjatun called for a transparent and unbiased investigation, urging the police to base their findings on facts and evidence to ensure justice for all parties. Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi stressed that the discovery should not hinder students' education, urging a thorough inspection of the school premises without disrupting their learning.

The foundation temporarily moved lessons online for a week starting Monday to ensure student safety. Other rooms, including one resembling a bunker, still need to be inspected, and the foundation's lawyer has urged the police to secure and clear the areas containing unknown contents. This incident has raised concerns about school safety in the region after a Thai student recently shot and killed eight people, including his grandparents, school staff, and a schoolgirl, using his grandfather's firearm.