If no group has claimed responsibility for the attack at this time, the junta on Wednesday accused “terrorists” of being behind these explosions.
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An initial assessment reports at least eight dead and 18 injured. At least two bombs exploded on Wednesday, October 19, in front of a prison in Yangon, the economic capital of Burma. According to a statement from the ruling junta’s information service, the bombs targeted people queuing to drop off packages for friends or relatives detained at Insein prison.
At least two bombs exploded on Wednesday, October 19, in front of a prison in Rangoon, the economic capital of Burma. According to a statement from the ruling junta’s information service, the bombs targeted people queuing to drop off packages for friends or relatives detained at Insein prison.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack at this time. The junta accused “terrorists” to be at the origin of these explosions. She says three prison workers and a 10-year-old girl are among the victims.
Security forces defused another “artisanal mine” found in the area, the junta added. A woman who was waiting in the queue, not far from the counter where the parcels are dropped off, told AFP that the first explosion took place at 9:30 a.m. (local time). “Two other explosions followed quickly. After that, we also heard gunshots”explained this person who requested anonymity.
According to human rights groups, the facility has housed hundreds of political prisoners since the February 2021 military coup. Former UK Ambassador to Burma Vicky Bowman and Japanese journalist Toru Kubota are held there. Burma has been in the throes of a violent civil conflict since the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown. The former Nobel Peace Prize winner is being held in the detained in the capital, Naypyidaw.