Explosion at bank in northern Myanmar kills 2, wounds 21

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar authorities says a bomb exploded in a bank in the northern city of Lashio, a region where there is fighting between the government and ethnic minority guerrillas, killing two people and injuring 21 others.

The Facebook page of army commander Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said officials were investigating whether a terrorist group was behind the explosion Wednesday. Ethnic rebel groups that have not signed a cease-fire with the government are often described as terrorists. Several ethnic rebel groups are active in northern Shan state, whose capital is Lashio.

Military explosive experts, medics, local police and Red Cross workers rushed to the Yoma Bank branch after the explosion.