Major Explosion at Fort Railway Station
A suicide bomber who is believed to have come to Colombo from Medawachchiya in a train struck terror at the Fort Railway Station yesterday afternoon blowing herself up when vigilant security personnel had stopped her on suspicion.
The powerful blast killed at least 12 people and injured about 103 on the eve of the diamond jubilee Independence Day celebrations.
According to railway authorities the explosion occurred around 2 15 p.m. near the Ambepussa bound train which was about to leave.
A senior police officer said it was suspected that the suicide bomber must have come from the Medawachchiya train which had arrived minutes earlier. It was reported that she blew herself up after having been stopped by the security personnel who were on duty at the platform at that time.
The explosion had slightly damaged the carriage of the train. Police said there was a large crowd waiting to board the train when the explosion occurred, and that was the reason for the heavy casualty figures.
Police said investigations were underway to determine whether the explosion was caused by a suicide jacket or explosives carried in a baggage.
T. Karunaratne the guard of the Ambepussa bound train said he was walking towards the train when the blast occurred. He said there were around 100 commuters waiting to get into the train as some passengers who had come from the train which had earlier arrived from Matara had also got into the Ambepussa train.
Ravindu Pinto, an employee of the Railway Station said he was on duty and was with a police officer when the blast occurred. He said he saw a man and a woman on the ground after sustaining severe injuries.
Security was tightened at the station and the army and police were seen checking the vehicles and the shops in and around the station last evening.
Four of the dead had been identified when this edition went to press. They were Lakshmi Perera, Nagahawatta Road, Maharagama, Sanjaya Kumara, 502, Ganewatta, Ragama, U.L.D.A. Gunasinghe, Daham Sevana, Palawatta and Rajaratna Sadi, Sri Dharmarama Road, Colombo 10.
Colombo National Hospital Director, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe said seventeen persons who had sustained serious injuries underwent emergency surgery. “We faced an emergency in this magnitude after some time and we were able to provide vital and emergency treatment without delay due to the dedication of doctors, nurses and supporting medical staff,” he said.
By Yohan Perera and Sandun Jayasekera
Source: Daily Mirror
Tags: commuters, diamond jubilee, explosion, explosives, independence day, large crowd, police officer, railway authorities, railway station, security personnel, suicide bomber, suicide jacket, suspicion, train police, vigilant security
