Tragedy Strikes Myanmar Festival as Bombs Drop From Paraglider

Fri Oct 10 2025 09:16:46 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A violent attack during a Buddhist festival in central Myanmar has left at least 24 dead and 47 injured. The incident occurred amidst a vigil protesting against the military junta.

During the annual Thadingyut festival in Myanmar, a paramotor dropped bombs on an assembly of around 100 people, resulting in at least 24 fatalities. The gathering, held in Chaung U township, doubled as a protest against military rule following the 2021 coup. The attack has drawn international condemnation, with calls for urgent protection of civilians from escalating violence.

A paramotor attack on a festival and protest in central Myanmar has killed at least 24 people and wounded 47 others, a spokesperson from the exiled National Unity Government informed BBC Burmese.

About 100 individuals had gathered at Chaung U township on Monday evening for the Thadingyut festival—a national holiday rooted in Buddhism—when a motor-powered paraglider released two bombs over the crowd, as reported by a local official from the anti-junta People’s Defence Force.

The gathering was also a candlelight vigil opposing junta policies.

Myanmar has been embroiled in civil war since a military coup in 2021, with the UN estimating more than 5,000 civilian deaths due to the conflict.

During the Monday gathering, officials received alerts about a potential airborne attack and attempted to hastily conclude their protest; however, the paramotors arrived sooner than anticipated. They arrived and dropped the bomb within just seven minutes, stated a source.

Witness accounts revealed harrowing scenes of chaos and destruction. Children were completely torn apart, recounted a woman involved in organizing the event who later attended funerals, expressing the ongoing struggle to gather remains from the site.

In response to the attack, Amnesty International characterized the junta’s use of paramotors in assaults as part of a disturbing trend in confrontation tactics, particularly in light of restrictions on military equipment due to international sanctions.

Joe Freeman, Amnesty International's Myanmar researcher, highlighted the necessity for urgent civilian protection in light of these developments, urging regional blocs to intensify pressure on the junta in light of their handling of the ongoing crises.

The candlelight vigil featured protests against military conscription and an upcoming election, advocating for the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar is set to hold its general elections in December, the first after the military takeover, although critics contend that the elections will not be legitimately democratic.