Water festival attacks kill 3 during Myanmar coup leader’s holiday — Radio Free Asia
Missile attacks on two universities in a holiday town in Myanmar killed three and injured eight, residents told Radio Free Asia on Monday.
During coup leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing’s Thingyn – or water festival – visit to Mandalay division’s Pyinoolwin city on Sunday, an unknown group fired more than 15 missiles at two military universities. The blasts, which hit the Defense Services Academy and Defense Services Technology Academy, also damaged a department of a nearby hospital and Aung Myay Zaya monastery.
The missiles injured five civilians when they landed on Pyinoolwin Hospital’s orthopedics department, said one Pyinoolwin resident, declining to be named for security reasons.
"The two monks who died were people who wore robes during the Thingyn period. They died when the explosion happened near them,” he said, describing civilians who temporarily become monks to observe Myanmar’s new year water festival. “The last man who died on the spot was in Ward No. 8. Another three people were injured in this neighborhood alone.”
Following the attack, tourists who came for the holiday and some permanent residents fled the city, he added.
From 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday evening, about 40 shots and explosions could be heard, said one Pyinoolwin resident who was near the site of the attack.
“After the sound of the missiles, Defense Services Academy and Defense Services Technology Academy troops cut the power. The military and social aid vehicles were busy,” he said, declining to be named for fear of reprisals. “I knew they fell in the area of the Defense Services Academy.”
Staff at Pyinoolwin Hospital are preparing to move patients to Mandalay Hospital, while junta soldiers are conducting security checks around the city, residents said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet, but residents told RFA that they were likely carried out from a hill behind the university campuses.
The junta has not issued any statements about the attacks. RFA called Mandalay division’s junta spokesperson Thein Htay for more information on the attacks, but he did not respond.
Residents told RFA they believe the attack was carried out because of Min Aung Hlaing’s visit. On Sunday, a bomb exploded near a pavilion in Mandalay city, injuring 12 people.
Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Mike Firn.
Related articles
Revealed: Bernard Hill's touching seven
Bernard Hill's touching response to getting offered a role in the BBC Drama The Responder has been r2024-05-07Bairstow's unbeaten century leads Punjab to highest run chase in IPL history
KOLKATA, India (AP) — Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten century off 45 balls spearheaded Punjab Kings to the2024-05-07Slavia Prague fined $93,000 for crowd violence at Europa League game
PRAGUE (AP) — Slavia Prague was fined by UEFA 87,000 euros ($93,000) for crowd trouble during a Euro2024-05-07New York to require internet providers to charge low
NEW YORK (AP) — New York can move ahead with a law requiring internet service providers to offer hea2024-05-07Shocking moment Pennsylvania man pulls a gun on pastor in front of horrified congregation
A church service in Pennsylvania nearly took a fatal turn this week when a man pulled a gun on a pas2024-05-07REVEALED: George Soros is PAYING left
Multiple leaders of the anti-Israel protests at college campuses across the nation have been reveale2024-05-07
atest comment