LTTE kills 18 pilgrims in Dambulla bus explosion
Suspects say 'goodbye' after alighting:
by Ananda Pathiraja, Anuradhapura Correspondent
A pilgrimage ended in blood- shed and carnage yesterday, after LTTE
terrorists exploded a private bus killing 18 devotees including women
and children, in Dambulla Town.
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Rescue workers help to transport a critically injured woman
to hospital Pic: AFP |
Of those killed, fifteen were women who were on a pilgrimage to
Anuradhapura to participate in a religious pooja organised to bless the
country and people seeking peace.
According to Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara over 60
people were injured in the explosion, which occurred when the ill-fated
bus arrived at the Dambulla bus stand.
He said that preliminary investigations on the incident revealed that
the bus carrying 84 passengers including the driver and the conductor
had left Kandy at 5.15 am yesterday. Brig. Nanayakkara said that the
bomb was believed to have been placed inside the bus by LTTE terrorists.
Police investigations also revealed that when the bus was on its way
from Kandy two young men had boarded it in Matale and got down at Naula
saying `goodbye' to the passengers. It was later found that the parcel
left by the men would have contained the bomb and exploded when the bus
arrived at the Dambulla bus stand at 7 a.m.
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The LTTE raises funds internationally saying that they are
waging a ‘freedom war’, but continues with brutal murder of
women, children and innocent civilians, indiscriminately.
This toddler who received serious injuries in yesterday’s
Tiger bomb explosion in Dambulla is under treatment at the
Dambulla base hospital. What offence has this child of God
has committed to be punished in this gruesome manner?
Pic: Chintaka Kumarasinghe |
Those injured were rushed to the Dambulla, Matale, Kurunegala and
Kandy hospitals in ambulances and private vehicles.
The bus explosion at Dambulla yesterday was the second incident in
the area since a vehicle driven by a suicide cadre killed more than
hundred Navy personnel in Habarana in October 2006, the sources said. |
