(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Buddhist vigilantes in western Myanmar have attacked a bus and killed nine Muslims in one of the deadliest communal violence in the country.
"More than a hundred people beat and killed those people. The residents even torched the bus," a villager told us.
A bus carrying Muslim passengers was attacked near Taunggoke town in the western state of Rakhine late Sunday, June 3.
The attack followed the killing of a Buddhist woman in the area.
Resident Kyaw Min told that Buddhists "were angered by the authorities' handling" of the attack on the woman, who people in the area said was raped and killed.
Just before Sunday's attack, leaflets bearing a photo of the woman and describing the rape were distributed in the area.
Several residents, who declined to be identified, said the Muslims on the bus were not from the area and were on a visit to Rakhine state.
They suggested those killed may not have any relations to the attack on the woman.
Police have launched an investigation into the attack.
"An investigation is underway but I can't give you any further details," said a police official who requested anonymity.
Rakhine is home to Myanmar's largest concentration of Muslims, but their presence is often resented by the Buddhist majority.
Muslims make up nearly five percent of Myanmar's more than 53 million population.
Less numbered are the Indian-descended Muslims who live in Yangon and ethnic-Chinese Muslims, known as the Panthay.
/smh