Urban guerrilla groups in Yangon and Mandalay have mounted multiple attacks on regime targets over the past two days, according to sources in Myanmar’s two largest cities.
In Yangon, a group calling itself the Nan Htike Aung Urban Guerrilla Force claimed responsibility for two attacks on Thursday, and said that it also hit a military intelligence office in Tanintharyi Region the day before.
Moe Gyo, the group’s information officer, said that it shot up two police stations, one in North Dagon Township and the other in Thaketa Township, early Thursday morning.
“We still don’t know about the attack in Thaketa, but in North Dagon, two police officers were killed and several others were injured,” he said.
The other attack, in Tanintharyi’s Yebyu Township, involved the use of explosives and took place the night before, he added.
Myanmar Now has been unable to independently verify these claims.
Meanwhile, three Mandalay-based urban guerrilla groups say they jointly carried out two bombings in the city on Thursday—one targeting a police outpost near the Indian consulate in Chanmyathazi Township and another at a courthouse in Aungmyaythazan Township.
According to the leader of the King Cobra Guerrilla Force-Mandalay, one of the groups involved, anti-tank explosive devices were used in both attacks.
“I think there were some who were critically injured. I hear they’re secretly being treated at the Central Myanmar Military Command in Mandalay Palace,” the guerrilla leader said, noting that the military hasn’t released any statement on the incident.
A Mandalay resident who lives near the consulate confirmed that four police officers on guard duty were injured in the explosion.
“I haven’t heard about anyone dying, but I did hear that four police officers were badly hurt,” he said, adding that the military was conducting searches in the area.
Residents of Aungmyaythazan Township said they had heard about two junta soldiers being injured in the attack on the courthouse, but were unable to provide any further details.
Simultaneous explosions were also reported at around 6pm on Thursday in Mandalay’s Chanmyathazi and Maha Aungmyay townships.
One was near a Mytel communication tower on 86th Street in Chanmyathazi’s Daw Na Chan ward, and the other was at the corner of 65th street and 43rd street in Maha Aungmyay, residents told Myanmar Now.
No injuries were reported in either incident, but junta personnel at a police station near the Mytel tower fired a number of gunshots, a resident of the area said.
“This is the second time the tower has been bombed, but nobody was injured in either of the explosions,” said the local.
Urban guerrilla groups have stepped up their activities since last month due to regime crackdowns on peaceful anti-junta protests.
According to activist sources, more than 50 people were arrested in Yangon last month on suspicion of taking part in flash mob protests, triggering a wave of attacks in the city.
