Government officials told a press conference on 18 October that the blasts were intended to undermine foreign investment, while the KNU told a press conference two days later that the bombs were set off to incite communal conflict.

Officials at both press conferences cited statements made by suspects during interrogations.

“We assume that the motive was to incite racial and communal conflict in the country. Undermining foreign investment is just the bombers’ surface explanation,” KNU central executive committee member Pado Mahn Nyein Maung told a press conference at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon.

Eight people have been arrested in connection with the blasts. During police interrogations the suspects said they were linked to the KNU. KNU officials were subsequently allowed to question the alleged bombers and held a press conference following their investigation.

Zaw Win, the chief of Myanmar’s police force, told the 18 October press conference that the bombings were masterminded by the head of a business affiliated with the KNU and that his motive was to curb foreign investment.

Zaw Win cited statements made by suspects during questioning to back up this theory.

He made no connection between the bombs and religion, but the KNU’s Pado Mahn Nyein Maung said the suspects were targeting religious buildings to create conflict between people of different faiths. “They targeted religious buildings, including the sacred Buddhist shrine of Shwedagon pagoda. We assume their motive was to reignite communal conflict in the country by bombing the sacred shrines of Buddhists.”

The main suspect in the case, Saw Nay Toe – also known as Saw Shwe Htoo – remains at large.

Pado Mahn Nyein Maung confirmed the man was in charge of a KNU business that operated at a township level. He also said that the KNU would take full responsibility and reiterated its commitment to working with the government to solve the case.

“We will take responsibility for a person connected to the KNU who is involved in these bombings. We must take responsibility and be accountable. We will investigate this case in a fair manner and take action against those found to be involved. We have already said that the KNU’s position is that it will cooperate with the government to solve this case.”

He stressed that the KNU neither supported nor approved of the bombings.

The blasts began on 9 October, with at least 10 reported over the following week. Several unexploded bombs were also found. The blasts occurred in Bago Region’s Taun-ngu, Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing Regions, and Shan State, killing three people and creating panic.

The blasts also raised questions about Myanmar’s readiness to ensure security at the 27th SEA Games, which will kick off in December in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay and Ngwe Saung Beach. The government will install 6 billion kyat worth of security devices for the games next month, Police Chief Zaw Win told the 18 October press conference.