At Least 8 Dead in Myanmar Prison Bombing... 5 Civilian Victims Including Teenage Girl

Witness "Two Bombs Exploded, Then Gunfire from Watchtower"
3 of 8 Dead Are Prison Staff, 5 Are Civilian Visitors
Deaths by Military Since Coup Reach 2,300

An explosion occurred on the 19th (local time) at Insein Prison in Yangon, Myanmar, resulting in at least 8 deaths and 18 injuries. Photo by EPA, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] A bomb attack occurred at Insein Prison in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, killing at least 8 people and injuring 18.

Insein Prison is Myanmar's largest prison, housing about 10,000 inmates. Many of them are political prisoners. Four people, including former National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker Pyo Zeya Toe (41), who was executed in July, and democracy activist Cho Min Yu (53), were also imprisoned at Insein Prison at the time of their executions.

It is also known that former British Ambassador Vicky Bowman and her dissident artist husband, Tein Linn, as well as Japanese documentary filmmaker Kubota Toru, are currently detained there.

According to local media Myanmar Now on the 19th (local time), two bombs disguised as parcels exploded in front of Insein Prison in the morning, followed by gunfire. The first bomb exploded inside the prison. The other bomb exploded outside the prison. Witnesses reported that many civilians were present at the scene to deliver food and daily necessities to the inmates at the time of the explosion, and gunfire began from the prison watchtower after the explosion.

The authorities announced that the bomb exploded at the prison post office. Another unexploded bomb was later found wrapped in a plastic bag.

The authorities stated that among the 8 deceased, 3 were prison staff and 5 were civilian visitors. Current media reports say that all 5 victims were women and relatives of inmates. Thirteen visitors, including a 9-year-old boy, and 5 prison guards were injured and are receiving treatment at Insein Village Hospital.

Among the civilian casualties were a 10-year-old girl and others. Notably, one victim was the mother of student leader Lin Httet Naing, who was arrested by Myanmar military authorities in June. She had visited the prison to deliver a box of rice to her son during the week his court hearing was held.

Insein Prison is located on the outskirts of the capital and is known for being massive and heavily guarded. Built over 100 years ago, the prison is notorious for its harsh conditions and inhumane treatment of prisoners.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing. The military blamed terrorists for the attack. Witnesses told Myanmar Now that indiscriminate shooting from the watchtower caused some of the deaths.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar military staged a coup in February last year, claiming that the November 2020 general election, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory, was fraudulent. Since the coup, the military has violently suppressed pro-democracy forces. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), more than 2,300 people have died and about 15,800 have been arrested or detained by the military since the coup.