Skip navigation

Bomb tears through crowded Sri Lankan bus

Military spokesman blames the attack on a rebel group

South and Central Asia video  
India lawmakers caught sleeping on the job
  July 5: Lawmakers in India were caught on camera catching up on some sleep during a speech by the speaker of the lower house of parliament. MSNBC's Alex Witt reports.

Text alerts on msnbc.com

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

updated 11:25 a.m. ET April 25, 2008

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - A suspected rebel bomb exploded on a bus in a Colombo suburb Friday evening, killing 24 civilians and wounding 40 others, the military said.

The explosion took place about 6:45 p.m. local time while the vehicle, which had passengers on it, was at a bus stand in the town of Piliyandala just south of the capital, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.

"This is definitely an LTTE act," he said, referring to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Ambulances with sirens railing flooded a nearby hospital, where off-duty doctors and nurses ran in to help the injured. A boy about 6-years-old, and a girl about 8-years-old were wounded and dazed as they were brought inside.

The bomb was hidden in a parcel on the overhead rack above the third row of seats behind the driver, Nanayakkara said.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan did not respond to calls seeking comment.

The rebels, responsible for scores of suicide bombings and other attacks on civilians, are listed as a terror group by the United States, European Union and India.

The attack was the first major bombing since a suicide bomber killed 14 people, including a government minister and a former Olympian, at the start of a marathon April 6.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  MORE FROM SOUTH & CENTRAL ASIA  
  
South & Central Asia Section Front
 
Add South & Central Asia headlines to your news reader:
 
Sponsored LinksGet listed here
Top Online Schools
Find the perfect online school and Boost your Career! Free Info Pack.
www.EarnMyDegree.com

Sponsored links

Resource guide