Explosions occurred at Team PT MMA and Fitness Gym in Utopia Tower were caused by homemade bombs while testing, injuring MMA fighter Pho Thaw, according to a report from MWD TV on May 6.

The blast occurred around 10 pm on May 5.

“The explosion occurred at a gym open on the ground floor. The blast opened the ceiling. I only knew the MMA fighter Pho Thaw got injured in the blast,” said a person who lived near Kandawgyi.

Pho Thaw had injuries all over his body and sent to Maydarwi Hospital in North Oakkalapa Hospital around 11 pm. Security forces arrived at the hospital to investigate.

They allegedly found a homemade bomb made of PVC pipe inside a car which took Pho Thaw to the hospital and detained Myat Htoo Naing aka Kaung Sithu, Han Htoo Naing and May Yadana Hlaing.

They also allegedly found a pistol, accessories and passports from the gym, it said.

“The bombs used in the army are made of small steel balls and irons and they can cause serious damage based on the place and skills of the people who use them. The homemade bombs are made of broken bottles, sulfuric acid, nails and needles. They can be made easily and cannot be detected using bomb detection devices. The homemade bombs can make inside an air-tight water bottle or container. Although the stun bomb includes little gunpowder, it can make an effect based on the place where it exploded,” said a police officer from Yangon Region police force.

The authorities found old bombs made in foreign countries but some have not exploded. They found many forms of homemade bombs including bombs attached with a keypad phone and stun bomb with explosive powder, he said.

“People are not hurt as the blast occurred when no one is near it. Most of them made damages only building and injured people as they are intended to make people frightened. As far as I heard, there is an explosion which caused people died and it can be assumed that it exploded while testing it,” he added.

Similarly, an explosion occurred near Nursing Institute on Bogyoke Aung San Road in Lanmadaw Township in the morning of May 6 and no casualties are reported.

“I heard the explosion around 8 am and I thought it was caused by a transformer as I saw smoke coming up from the road. But I didn’t dare to go to the scene,” said a person lived in the township.

Two blasts were heard on Botahtaung Township on the night of May 6.

“They are stun bombs assumed to be thrown from a car near Yarzardiyeik housing around 7 pm. No clue is found,” said Sein Thaung, Administrator of the township.