32 killed, 250 hurt in LTTE bomb blast

COLOMBO, MARCH 5: At least 32 people, including three school children and two policemen were killed and 250 injured when a bomb-laden vehicl...

COLOMBO, MARCH 5: At least 32 people, including three school children and two policemen were killed and 250 injured when a bomb-laden vehicle driven by an LTTE suicide bomber exploded near a busy suburban railway station causing widespread devastation and damage, police said. Earlier reports had put the death toll at 35.

An official press release, however, said 30 people including two policemen died in the blast, but did not mention the fate of the driver of the vehicle. Police investigators said a 36-seater mini luxury bus suspected to have been hired by the Tamil rebels to transport high grade explosives, came to the notice of the police when it knocked down a cyclist and sped past.

Two policemen on motorcycle gave a chase and forced the bus to stop near the railway station at Maradana, they said, adding the bus exploded minutes later in a ball of fire when one of the policemen tried to force open its door to pull out the driver, who along with the policemen, died under the impact of the blast. Therewas no passenger in the bus.

Story continues below this ad

According to hospital sources, 250 injured people with 45 in serious condition were brought for treatment. Police said it was obvious the explosives were being sent to blow up a bigger target.

This was the second incident in the past few weeks of a suicide bomber exploding in Colombo while being checked by the police. Last month, a woman blew herself up at a check point near the Air Force headquarters minutes after the Air Chief Marshall’s convoy had passed through the area.