Bomb explodes at CID headquarters in Naypyitaw

Four police officials, including a lieutenant colonel, were injured after a parcel bomb went off at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Naypyitaw on Tuesday evening, according to police sources. 

The parcel, which had been labelled as evidence, exploded when police officials opened it, said an official who requested anonymity.

“The parcel was among the evidence packages for explosion cases sent from other towns,” the official told Myanmar Now.

One officer, Police Lt-Col Zaw Than, sustained serious injuries to his leg, the source said. Details of the injuries to the other three police officials were unknown at the time of reporting.

Another police official in Yangon confirmed the bomb blast at the CID headquarters, but refused to disclose further details.

The headquarters of the CID is located in Zeya Theiddhi, a ward in Naypyitaw’s Zabuthiri Township. It is a short distance from the head offices of the Myanmar Police Force, under which it operates, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Myanmar’s ruling junta, called the State Administration Council, meets at a location about 5km from where the explosion occurred. Other key offices, including those of the ministries of foreign affairs and information, are also in the same area. 

It was unclear at the time of reporting if the explosion was the result of an accident, or if the CID had been deliberately targeted for attack. So far, no group has claimed responsibility. 

Ngwe Soe, a spokesperson for the Naypyitaw People’s Defence Force (PDF), declined to confirm if his own group was involved. He also said that he hadn’t been in contact with other anti-regime groups regarding the incident. 

The Naypyitaw PDF did, however, claim responsibility for the bombing of a Ministry of Immigration and Population vehicle earlier in the day. No details regarding casualties or damage from that attack, which also took place in Zabuthiri Township, were available.

Last week, the Naypyitaw PDF detonated a bomb at the office of the military’s directorate of procurement in Pobbathiri Township, damaging part of the building and an SUV. 

Naypyitaw has seen several attacks by anti-junta forces in recent months. In late August, the Naypyitaw PDF said it attacked a military column in the capital’s Pyinmana Township, killing around 11 soldiers. The junta has denied the attack ever happened. 

According to Ngwe Soe, Tuesday’s explosions signalled an escalation of offensives against the regime that seized power in February.

“I’ve said before that bigger attacks are coming, and today’s explosion was just a warning to those still serving under the junta,” he said.

“I would also like to urge the public not to go near soldiers or police, as more attacks are underway,” he added. 

Editor’s Note: This article has been revised to reflect the fact that the cause of the explosion that hit the CID headquarters had still not been confirmed at the time of reporting.