NAYPYITAW, 29 October 2021, (TON): According to local sources “seven branches of the privately-owned KBZ Bank were bombed at locations around Mandalay overnight.”

Explosions were reported throughout the city’s downtown core, including at three intersections on Thatepan Road, as well as on 62nd Street, 73rd Street, the corner of Manawhari Road and 57th Street, and the corner of 38th Street and 84th Street.

Myanmar’s coup regime has not released a statement regarding the bombings, and so far no group has claimed responsibility for carrying out the attacks. A spokesperson for KBZ Bank could not be reached for comment.

The blasts come amid growing concerns that the country’s private banks have begun to cooperate with the junta, which has been pressuring them to disclose information about customers in a bid to track down financing of anti-regime activities.

One local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said “I think KBZ became a target because it is believed that they have been sharing information about those suspected of donating money to support the revolution, and also freezing accounts used for this purpose.”