Thirteen people including three Buddhist monks were killed and nearly 40 injured in a junta airstrike on a Sagaing monastery in Thabyay Thar village, Sagaing Township on Saturday, according to residents.
The bombs were dropped as anti-regime forces including a People’s Defense Team, People’s Administration, and People’s Security Teams (Pa La Pha) were holding a meeting at the monastery, said villagers.
“They dropped about three 500-lb bombs. Victims of the blasts were mangled. Elderly worshippers at the monastery were among those killed. Many more suffered injuries and we are struggling to treat them with the simple medicines we have,” said a villager on Sunday.
Residents confirmed that four Thabyay Thar villagers were killed in the attack while other victims came from nearby villagers and resistance groups.
“Those killed included the monastery’s abbot, a disabled worshipper, and a man and his two sons who were sheltering at the monastery. Residents of other villages also lost their lives. We still can’t identify them,” another villager told The Irrawaddy.
The bombing followed a junta air raid that killed at least 27 people at Mataw village in Sagaing’s Mingin Township on June 3.
