APD | Another explosion rocks terror hit Sri Lanka

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Apr. 22 (APD) -- A van with explosives parked in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo exploded while the bombs were being defused on Monday, the Police said.

The bomb disposal squad carried out a controlled explosion of the van.

The Police said the van was believed to have been used by those involved in a bomb attack on the a church in Colombo on Sunday.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said that the area residents were cleared when the van was being checked and steps were taken to defuse the bomb.

The van then exploded causing minor damage to buildings in the area.

Three churches and three hotels were bombed while two other explosions also took place at an inn and a house on Sunday killing around 300 people and injuring over 500.

Officials have now confirmed that the attacks carried out in Colombo and outside the city were by suicide bombers.

The Government analyst has confirmed that six of the attacks were by suicide bombers.

Suicide bombers had also triggered explosives at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo and Shangri-la Colombo. A bomb also exploded at the Kingsbury hotel in Colombo.

The Zion church in Batticaloa, St Anthony’s Church in Colombo and St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo were also attacked.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)