At Least 24 dead as paraglider bombs crowd at Myanmar festival

At least 24 people were killed and 47 others injured when a motorised paraglider dropped two bombs on a crowd gathered for a Buddhist festival in Chaung U township, central Myanmar, officials said.

The attack occurred Monday evening as around 100 people attended the event to protest Myanmar’s military government, according to a spokesperson for the government-in-exile.

Since seizing power in 2021, Myanmar’s military has faced a civil war with armed resistance groups and ethnic militias, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced. After losing control of much of the country, the army has recently regained ground through airstrikes and heavy bombardment.

Chaung U is in the Sagaing region, a key battleground where volunteer militias, known as the People’s Defence Force (PDF), run local administration. A PDF official said they had received warnings of a potential airborne attack but could not prevent the paramotors from striking. “It all happened in seven minutes,” he said.

Witnesses described scenes of devastation. Many bodies were unrecognizable, and children were among the victims, a local organiser told AFP.

Amnesty International condemned the attack, noting the junta’s use of motorised paragliders as part of a “disturbing trend.” Analysts said sanctions have restricted Myanmar’s military access to aircraft, but new drones and technology from China and Russia have enhanced their capabilities.

Joe Freeman, Amnesty International’s Myanmar researcher, called the incident a “gruesome wake-up call” and urged ASEAN to increase pressure on the junta.

The vigil was organised as a peaceful protest against military conscription, the upcoming national elections, and the detention of political prisoners, including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Critics say Myanmar’s December elections are unlikely to be free or fair, allowing the military to maintain unchecked power.