MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, groups of militants carried out a series of simultaneous attacks against Myanmar police in the western state of Rakhine. According to previous estimates by the State Counsellor Office, at least eight police officers, one immigration service worker, and 16 attackers were killed.
"The terrorists launched organized attacks on police outposts and police stations in Maungtaw, Buthidaung and Yathedaung Townships simultaneously early this morning. The latest development is as follows: Death toll 11 (one security personnel and 10 policemen)… Deputy Township Immigration Officer 1… Bodies of terrorists retrieved 59," the statement published on Facebook said.
Rakhine is a site of frequent clashes between Myanmar's Muslims and Buddhists. The conflict that started about a century ago had gradually escalated since 2011 before hitting its peak in 2012, when thousands of Muslim families sought asylum in the special refugee camps on the country's territory or fled to Bangladesh.
