House Roofs Shook, Parongpong Residents Did Not Expect Explosion Sounds to be Bomb Tests

BANDUNG BARAT, KOMPAS.com - Residents of Kampung Lembur Sawah, also known as Parigilame, in Ciwaruga Village, Parongpong District, West Bandung Regency, West Java, reported frequently hearing explosion sounds at night.

Until now, locals assumed these sounds came from firecrackers and did not suspect anything unusual.

However, after police arrested Muhammad Salman Al-Qormi (25), residents learned that the explosions were suspected to be from homemade bomb tests carried out at the suspect's residence.

Salman was arrested by police on September 11, 2026, in connection with possession of explosives and firearms.

Police investigation revealed that Salman had assembled bombs and conducted 56 explosive power tests.

Of those tests, 16 were high-powered explosions and 40 were low-powered.

Explosions even caused house roofs to vibrate

One of Salman's neighbors, Toto Mustofa, said he once felt a strong explosion that caused his roof to shake.

Toto’s house is separated by only one building from Salman’s home.

"Once, it was at dusk, I could feel the zinc roof vibrate. At first, I didn't suspect it was coming from Salman's house, but it turned out it was," Toto said when interviewed on Friday (18/9/2026).

At that time, not only Toto but his wife also felt the vibrations on the upper part of their home.

However, neither of them suspected that the source of the explosions was Salman’s house.

"I wasn't suspicious; my wife joked it might be sounds from the mountain, but the vibrations really caused the zinc roof to shake. That was about three weeks ago, less than a month," he added.

Residents mistook sounds for firecrackers

Endang Supriatna, head of RT 03 RW 09 in Kampung Lembur Sawah/Parigilame, confirmed that residents often heard explosions.

According to Endang, the sounds were mostly heard from nighttime until midnight.

"There were many explosions. Many residents mentioned it—often during night patrols, mostly after 9 p.m. until midnight," Endang said.

Despite the frequent sounds, residents did not investigate further into the source.

They assumed the sounds were simply firecrackers.

"But we didn’t know what it really was; we just ignored it, no suspicion. We thought it was firecrackers," he explained.

Suspicion only arose after police raided Salman’s house on Friday (11/9/2026) afternoon.

Endang, as RT head, accompanied the police during the raid.

Police seize explosives and homemade weapons

Police confiscated various pieces of evidence related to explosives and firearms from Salman’s home.

The evidence was presented in a press conference at the West Java Police Headquarters on Thursday (17/9/2026).

Authorities seized mortar ammunition complete with projectiles, 50 rounds of blank and live 5.5 caliber bullets, three barrels of assembled firearms, and three grenade casings.

Additionally, police secured a trigger mechanism and 13 types of chemical concoctions suspected to be used in bomb-making.

During the raid, locals also saw a pot suspected of being used as a container for the homemade bombs.

Endang said the findings shocked the residents of RW 09.

"Everyone in RW 9 was surprised that there were bombs here. They were spread out on the mosque terrace. From what I know, there were pot bombs, bullets, weapons with just the barrels, long gun barrels, and even arrows," he emphasized.

The discovery also prompted residents to connect these findings to the explosion sounds they often heard at night.

Before the raid, people never suspected that the noises originated from bomb-making or explosive testing activities in their residential area.

Currently, the West Java Police are handling the case after Salman’s arrest on allegations of possessing explosives and firearms.

Part of this article previously appeared on TribunJabar.id under the headline "House Roofs Even Shook, Parongpong KBB Residents Did Not Expect Explosion Sounds Were From Bomb Tests".