The incident happened at about 3:30 am on 24 April on Pyidaungsu road, Jawmjor tract, Muse township, northern Shan State.
Sai Kyaw, a Muse resident, said that the two gunmen were wearing black clothing and hoods. They hid opposite the bank and then started shooting at the building. More than 40 bullets were found at the bank but no one was injured.
“No one knows who fired the shots at the bank. It is strange that they shot only at the bank but not at any people. It seemed to be a warning,” said Sai Kyaw.
According to Muse residents, in March 2015, the Kachin Independence Army, Brigade 4 had sent a letter to banks in Muse township, including the Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank, Innwa bank, United Amara Bank Ltd., and Myawaddy Bank, requesting discussion. Therefore, they suspect that this might be linked to the KIA.
Following the shooting, security has been tight in Muse township and along the border, at Muse city entrance gate, Burma-China border gate, Asia World gate, and Shweli river gate. Authorities have stopped every car and checked every passenger passing the checkpoints.
Violent crimes, including armed robbery, often occur in Muse.
