By HEIN KO SOE | FRONTIER
YANGON — Two bombs that exploded at the Ocean Supermarket in Yangon’s Mayangone Township on November 17 were planted to scare, not hurt, police have said.
Bo Htin Kyaw, a police lieutenant investigating the twin blasts told Frontier on November 21 that the relatively small size of the two explosives, which were both planted inside M-150 energy drink bottles, meant they were only intended to scare people.
Both bombs were planted in a parking compound inside the supermarket compound, one behind the rear wheels of a car and the other in rubbish bins.
He added that police have captured the image of a key suspect in the Mayangone blast via closed-circuit television and the images had been circulated to police forces in Yangon Region.
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“Pieces of evidence, such as a broken bottle, a test tube and powder were gained from the scene on November 17 and were sent to a laboratory in Dagon [Township],” he said.
Police believe the same type of bombs were planted at the Capital Supermarket in Dawbon Township on November 20. No injuries were reported in either incident.
The supermarket was reopened on November 21.
“We reopened at 2pm today because both the army and the police, who were looking for bombs, confirmed there no more explosives in our shopping centre,” said Daw Thwe Thwe Moe, general manager of the centre.
Yangon Region’s chief minister U Phyo Min Thein, minister for border affairs Colonel Tin Aung Tun and chief of police lieutenant-general Win Naing visited the site in Dawbon but did not answer any questions for the media.
Police said they were still inspecting CCTV records and could not say any more at this point.
