At least six people, including one child, were injured when a bomb exploded in Rangoon's Insein Township on Sunday evening, according to police officials in the former Burmese capital.

The incident occurred at around 7 pm, when an unidentified man accidentally set off an explosive device which he was carrying with him, injuring himself and at least four other people, the police said.

Although no one was killed, several of the victims were said to be in critical condition, and the man suspected of carrying the explosive lost a leg.

The explosion is still under investigation and the authorities have yet to identify the man accused of carrying the explosive. However, a police official in Rangoon who is handling the case said that exiled dissidents were most likely responsible for the incident.

“According to our latest findings, this is connected to political exile groups,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Witnesses said that the number of injured would have been much higher if the explosion had occurred in a more crowded place.

“It was a very large explosion. There would have been far more casualties if it had exploded in the city center,” said a witness.

Sources in Rangoon said that on the night of the incident, the authorities blocked roads and checked cars. They added that some former political prisoners were also questioned about the incident.

In April last year, a deadly bombing took place during the annual water festival marking the Burmese New Year.

The explosion, which killed at least 10 people, including a senior military officer, was believed to have been an unsuccessful attempt by militant dissidents to assassinate Nay Shwe Thwe Aung, the grandson of junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe.

The authorities blamed exiled groups for the incident and handed down an eight-year prison sentence to a Rangoon resident accused of involvement in the explosion.