The event, which was a Buddhist festival, also marked a spot for protest against junta policies through a candlelight vigil. (Reuters/ Representational photo) At least 24 people were killed and 47 others wounded when a motor-powered paraglider dropped two bombs on people gathered to celebrate Myanmar’s Buddhist festival in Chaung U township on Monday evening, BBC reported quoting a spokesperson from the exiled National Unity Government.
The incident took place when about 100 people had gathered at Chaung U township on Monday to celebrate the Thadingyut festival, which is a national holiday and has its Buddhist roots, when a paraglider dropped two bombs over the crowd, a local official under the anti-junta’s People’s Defence Force was quoted as saying by BBC.
The event, which was a Buddhist festival, also marked a spot for protest against junta policies through a candlelight vigil. Myanmar has been in a civil war since its military launched a coup against the government in 2021. The United Nations estimates state that the civil war has killed more than 5,000 civilians.
‘Deadly attack’ on Myanmar festival – reportedly killing more than 20 people including children – highlights motorized paraglider threat to civilians. https://t.co/MfuzVnaSvs
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An official of the People’s Defence Force told BBC that they received information of a potential airborne attack on the gathering in Thadingyut festival and their team reached the spot and tried to conclude the protest that was also taking place at the venue against the junta policies, but the paramotors reached the festival site earlier than they expected.
“They arrived and dropped the bomb within just seven minutes. When the first bomb dropped, I fell to the ground, but it hit the lower part of my knee. There were people killed beside me,” the official said.
Amnesty International in a statement on Tuesday criticised the use of motorised paragliders by the junta to attack communities and said it was part of a “disturbing trend” in the region. A report had earlier highlighted that junta has been increasingly opting for paramotors due to a lack of aircraft and helicopters.
