A firebrand monk dubbed the “Burmese bin Laden” for his aggressive preaching against radical Islamists pointed fingers at Muslims for a late Sunday bombing that went off during his sermon in Myanmar, injuring several.
The monk, Ashin Wirathu, gave himself the nickname — which has since stuck — as a play on Osama bin Laden, whom he considered a radical terrorist.
The blast hit about 9 p.m. during a service outside Mandalay, The Associated Press reported. A car parked several yards from where the monk was speaking exploded and wounded five, AP said.
The monk, Ashin Wirathu, actually continued his sermon.
“It wasn’t a loud explosion,” one witness said, in the AP report. “But it caused some commotion. Many people left.”
Police haven’t concluded the bomb was targeted at the monk.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.