Myanmar police: Explosion in Mandalay wounds 5

Police say they are investigating an explosion that went off near a firebrand monk as he was giving a sermon in Myanmar's second largest city, wounding five.

The blast occurred yesterday night during a Buddhist ceremony in Mandalay.

The monk, Ashin Wirathu, is accused of inciting violence with speeches warning that country's minority Muslim community poses a threat to Buddhist culture. He was unharmed.

A police officer who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to speak to the media said today that the explosion went off under a parked car about 18 meters from the monk.

He said five people suffered minor injuries.
 

A 35-year old Mandalay resident Ma Sandar who was at the speech, said it was a small blast and that Wirathu continued speaking afterward.