Myanmar anti-coup group bombs military convoy near Yangon, leaving at least 2 dead
- The bomb attack on security forces saw several killed in an ensuing firefight, the military and media said
- Since the February 1 coup, various townships across Myanmar have formed ‘people defence forces’ to fight back against the junta
Myanmar anti-junta dissidents have carried out a bomb attack on security forces near Yangon, with several killed in an ensuing firefight, the military and media said.
The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since the military toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February, sparking mass pro-democracy protests and a bloody crackdown by the military.
Security forces were travelling through Khayan, a suburb of Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon on Friday when they were attacked with a home-made bomb, the junta said in a statement on Saturday.
“Both groups fired back and forth – a member of the security forces was injured,” the statement said, adding that firearms and ammunition were confiscated after the clash. “Some terrorists were … (killed), one of them was wounded.”
Local media reported at least two dissidents were killed and one arrested.
Earlier this month the National Unity Government, made up mostly of lawmakers affiliated with Suu Kyi’s ousted party, called for a “people’s defensive war” and urged civilians to target junta assets.