At least 24 people were killed and over 50 wounded when a motorized paraglider dropped bombs on a Buddhist festival in Bon To village, central Myanmar. The gathering, which also called for the release of political prisoners, was attended by more than 100 people, including children. Eyewitnesses described failed attempts to disperse the crowd before the explosives detonated, and reported that the paraglider returned to drop additional bombs. Local sources suggest the death toll may be higher, with many civilian casualties.
The attack is part of a growing pattern of aerial strikes by Myanmar's military junta, which has increasingly used motorized paragliders for targeted assaults on opposition-held areas. Human rights organizations have condemned the bombing, accusing the regime of deliberately targeting noncombatants. The junta has not released a statement about the incident.
The conflict in Myanmar has escalated in recent months, with resistance forces gaining ground and large areas slipping from military control. The deadly bombing has sparked renewed calls for international action to protect civilians from further violence.