Bomb rocks busy Sri Lankan train

[John Ashworth]

1. Bomb rocks busy Sri Lankan train
updated at 15:45 GMT, Monday, 26 May 2008 16:45 UK

At least eight people have been killed and 67 injured in a bombing during rush hour on a packed Sri Lankan commuter train, the military says.

The blast hit the Colombo-Panadura train in Dehiwala station, in a suburb of the capital Colombo, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

He blamed Tamil Tiger separatists for the attack, the latest in a string targeting public transport.

The military says it defused two bombs found on buses over the weekend.

Ten days ago a suicide bomber on a motorcycle rammed a bus carrying police officers and last month another explosion inside a bus killed more than 20 people.

In February, 11 people died in a suicide attack at Colombo's main train station.

Tamil Tiger separatists were blamed for that incident, although they routinely deny involvement in bombings in the country.

Toll 'could rise'

The army said Monday's explosion occurred at 1650 local time (1120 GMT), and the area had been cordoned off.

Bodies have been pulled from the wreckage and the defence ministry said the number of dead could rise.

Brigadier Nanayakkara told AFP news agency a pregnant woman was among the dead.

Commuter Ramani Padmalatha, 42, told AFP the train suddenly slowed after a "deafening noise".

"People were shouting 'bomb, bomb!' and scrambling to get out of the windows of the carriage... I managed to jump out from the door. People were stumbling out of that carriage with blood stains on their clothes, some with burns, some looking dazed," she said.

Eyewitness R A Upali told the BBC Sinhala service the explosion took place as the train was pulling out of the station.

"I ran to the place where the explosion happened. I saw people fall on the platform. People with minor injuries ran towards us."

The train compartment's windows were blown out and part of its roof was torn off in the blast, which left bloodstained bags and umbrellas strewn among the debris.

BBC

2. Passenger Train Bombing In Sri Lanka
Updated:15:04, Monday May 26, 2008

Seven people have been killed after a bomb exploded on a passenger train in Sri Lanka.

The blast occurred on a packed train during rush hour near the railway station in Dehiwala, a southern suburb of the capital Colombo, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

At least 67 people were wounded by the explosion.

The military said Tamil Tiger rebels were responsible for the attack.

The group has been blamed for scores of suicide bombings and other attacks on civilians but usually deny any involvement.

They are listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and India.

Another blast blamed on rebels killed 26 people at a Colombo bus station last month.

The Tamil Tigers have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils, who have been marginalised by successive governments controlled by the majority Sinhalese.

More than 70,000 people have been killed.

Sky News