Myanmar military academy attacked with artillery

YANGON, Myanmar

A rebel group has attacked a military academy near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, the military said Thursday.

The Defence Services Technology Academy (DSTA), located in Pyin Oo Lwin, a scenic hill town in Mandalay Region, was hit by five heavy artillery or motor shells early this morning, said spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun.

“It killed a civilian and wounded a soldier in the academy compound,” he told Anadolu Agency by phone.

He added that a military checkpoint in Pyin Oo Lwin and a military base in Naung Cho in Shan State were also attacked by a group of unidentified armed rebels Thursday morning.

He said the attacks were likely in response to a recent military raid on drug factories in Shan State.

Some local media reports said the attacks were carried out by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a member of the Northern Alliance military coalition composed of ethnic insurgent groups which still engages in armed conflicts with the military in border areas.

Anadolu Agency was unable to reach the TNLA for comment.