Police foil Tiger attempt to wreak havoc

Police foiled an alleged Tiger attempt to wreak havoc on the eve of Independence day, when they found a claymore mine in Maligawatte, yesterday, believed to be targeting the security forces personnel on Independence day duties.

The bomb was fitted to a three-wheeler parked in a garage in Maligawatte, in close vicinity of the Kettarama Stadium, where nearly 1,200 security forces personnel brought to Colombo on Independence Day related duties were housed.

"A civilian tipped off a police team about the bomb, early morning yesterday." said OIC Maligawatte police Chief Inspector S.A.S. Suraweera. The claymore mine was hidden in a box in the three-wheeler.

The owner of the garage has denied any involvement and said the three-wheeler had been parked there without his knowledge.

Police said that the suspects could have abandoned the bomb fitted three-wheeler when they found the cordon and search operation.

Police said the target could have been the security forces personnel housed in the Kettarama stadium.

"The target could have been a bus transporting soldiers on duty in the morning of Independence day," said a senior police officer.

Five suspects have been taken in for questioning in this connection.