Police use stun grenades to disperse crowds in Myanmar

Police in Myanmar on Tuesday released stun grenades on a crowd of hundreds of protesters who were demonstrating in the city of Yangon against the military coup that ousted the country’s democratically elected government.

Reuters reported that protesters took to the streets while wearing hard hats and wielding hand-made shields and barricaded themselves before the officers released fire.

“They were acting like they were in a war zone,” a teacher at the protest told Reuters about the actions of the police.

No injuries were reported in Yangon, according to Reuters. However, four people were wounded from live ammunition in the town of Kale, which is located in the northwestern region of the country. Protesters also reported that they were wounded by rubber bullets used against them by law enforcement.

Police officers also reportedly opened fire on protesters in Yangon on Sunday, along with tear gas and warning shots after crowds refused to disperse.

At least 21 people in Myanmar have died as a result of the protests. One police officer was reportedly killed by the army.

Military officials have justified the coup citing their unanswered complaints of fraud in a November election, Reuters noted. Election officials in the country have refuted that claim, saying that the vote was fair.

Governments from countries including Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. have advised residents and foreign nationals in Myanmar to “shelter in place” amid police and military attempts to suppress the protests and demonstrations.