Morning explosion in Myitkyina injures two

 MYITKYINA, Burma — Two people were injured following a 7:30 AM explosion Wednesday morning in Myitkyina, the capital of Burma’s northern Kachin state, according to local residents.

The explosion took place in the in the Ayeyar quarter of the city at a police traffic booth near Myitkyina's public hospital. The blast partially damaged the police booth, eyewitnesses told the Kachin News Group.

A man and a woman who were riding a motorcycle near the police box were injured during the blast. The man's hand appeared to be injured as a result of the explosion. Both people were sent to hospital, according to eyewitnesses.

A series of unexplained explosions have occurred in Myitkyina over the past ten days since the Water Festival known as Thingyan. No individuals or groups have taken responsibility for these blasts.  The Kachin Independence Organization says it will only attack Burmese military targets and has repeatedly emphasized that it does not carry out attacks in urban areas.

Since early March of this year the Burma army has been engaged in a push to seize the KIO's Laiza headquarters in eastern Kachin state.