A paramotor attack on a festival and protest in central Myanmar has killed at least 24 people and wounded 47 others, according to a spokesperson from the exiled National Unity Government. Around 100 people had gathered at Chaung U township on Monday evening for the Thadingyut festival, a national holiday with Buddhist roots, when a motor-powered paraglider dropped two bombs over the crowd. The event was also a candlelight vigil protesting junta policies. Myanmar has been in a state of civil war since its military seized power in a 2021 coup, with over 5,000 civilians estimated to have died in the conflict according to the UN. Locals reported that the paramotor reached them unexpectedly and that destruction made it hard to identify the victims, with accounts of severe injuries and fatalities among children. In a statement, Amnesty International condemned the junta's use of such attacks, urging for greater protection for civilians and calling for regional leaders to take action. As Myanmar approaches its first general elections since the coup, concerns grow that the event will not be free and fair.
Tragic Paraglider Attack Claims Lives at Myanmar Festival
Tragic Paraglider Attack Claims Lives at Myanmar Festival
A shocking attack during the Thadingyut festival in Myanmar leaves 24 dead as a paramotor drops bombs on a crowd. This incident highlights the ongoing civil unrest in the country.
During the Thadingyut festival in central Myanmar, a paramotor dropped bombs on a gathering, resulting in at least 24 fatalities and numerous injuries. The event was a candlelight vigil protesting against the military junta's actions. This tragic incident underscores the escalating violence in Myanmar following the 2021 coup.
