Incident Summary:

05/07/2005: Suspected members of the Karen National Union (KNU), Shan State Army (SSA), Kayinni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) bombed the Yangon Trade Center in Yangon, Myanmar. The explosion was one of three bombings in Yangon that occurred within 10 minutes of each other resulting in the deaths of 19 people and injuries to 162 others. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

GTD ID:
200505070002

When:
2005-05-07

Country:
Myanmar

Region:
Southeast Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Yangon

City:
Yangon

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Yangon Trade Center
Specific Description Businesses located inside the Yangon Trade Center
Nationality of Target Myanmar
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilan(s)
Specific Description Shoppers and employees at the Yangon Trade Center
Nationality of Target Myanmar
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Time Fuse
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information This was one of three related cases (cf. 200505070003, 200505070004). The available sources listed the casualties and injuries for these attacks cumulatively as 19 killed and 162 wounded, so these figures have been distributed evenly for these cases in order to preserve statistical accuracy in the database. Reports on the three incidents also indicated that authorities suspected a fourth group, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), had participated in the bombings.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Karen National Union No
Karenni National Progressive Party No
Shan State Army - South (SSA-S) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 7 Fatalities / 54 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 7
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 54
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
“Xinhua: Official Says Death Toll in 7 May Burma Bomb Blast Rises to 19,” Xinhua General News Service, May 15, 2005.
“AFP: Burmese Junta Blames Ethnic Guerrillas, Pro - Democracy Camp for Deadly Blasts,” Agence France Presse, May 08, 2005.
Aye Aye Win, “Myanmar Dissidents Deny Role in Bombings that Killed at Least 11, Wounded 162,” The Associated Press, May 08, 2005.