Decades of Violence: Paraglider Bombing at Myanmar Buddhist Festival Kills at Least 24

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What Happened — Attack During Buddhist Festival

On the evening of 6 October 2025, a motorized paraglider was used to drop bombs on a crowd gathering in Chaung U Township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar. The attack hit a Buddhist festival and protest vigil — a rare occasion where cultural, religious and political elements converged. The bombs struck just as people had gathered to mark a national holiday and voice opposition to the military regime.

At least 24 people were killed, and around 47 others wounded, in the bombing, according to local and exile government sources.

Witnesses said the bombs fell suddenly, shattering what had been a largely peaceful ceremony. Some survivors described seeing body parts amid the carnage.


Where & Why — The Setting & Motive

The attack took place in Sagaing, which has become a stronghold for anti-junta resistance. The local gathering was not just a religious event but also a protest calling for the release of political prisoners and opposing forced military conscription.

Such violence is part of a broader escalation: since the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military has increasingly resorted to aerial strikes, drone attacks, and now paraglider bombings, especially in regions where formal air forces or full air dominance are constrained by sanctions or limited resources.

Some witnesses say they heard warnings of an incoming “flying object,” but the attack came faster than many could react.


Casualties, Community Impact & Rescue Efforts

  • Many victims were civilians — including children, students, and local activists.
  • Rescue teams worked late into the night, retrieving bodies and transporting the wounded to hospitals under perilous conditions.
  • In some cases, bodies were so badly damaged they were difficult to identify — raising fears that the death toll may yet rise.
  • The site remains tense, with villagers reluctant to return amid fears of secondary attacks.

International & Human Rights Reactions

Human rights groups and the exiled National Unity Government (NUG) condemned the bombing as a war crime and a brutal attack on civilians.

  • Amnesty International called it a “gruesome wake-up call” and demanded greater protection for civilians in Myanmar.
  • Critics say the attack illustrates how the junta is intensifying violence in its efforts to quash dissent, especially in areas under opposition influence.
  • Some regional and international observers are renewing calls for stronger diplomatic pressure on Myanmar’s military leadership.

If you like, I can also prepare:

  • A day-by-day timeline of how the attack unfolded
  • Profiles of victims and survivors
  • A map of Sagaing’s control zones and how this attack fits into the broader conflict
  • Comparisons with previous attacks on civilian gatherings in Myanmar

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