Paragliders: The army's lethal new weapon in Myanmar's civil war
3 hours ago Share Save Yvette Tan Singapore and BBC Burmese Share Save
Supplied Paramotor attacks have ramped in Myanmar in recent months
It was a Monday night in Myanmar's Chang U township in central Sagaing region, where nearly 100 people had gathered to mark Thadingyut, the festival of the full moon. Some held candles at the event, which doubled as both a celebration and a protest against the military, which seized power in 2021, plunging the country into a bloody civil war. But the celebration soon turned into horror as a motorised paraglider - known locally as a paramotor - flew overhead and dropped bombs onto the crowd. The attack lasted just seven minutes, but at least 26 people died as a result and dozens more were injured. "Initially, I thought the lower part of my body had been severed," one 30-year-old who was at the gathering told news agency Reuters.
Continue Reading on BBC News
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.