Cablegate: Claymore Attack On Civilian Bus

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #1008 1660940
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 150940Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3671

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001008

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CE PTER
SUBJECT: CLAYMORE ATTACK ON CIVILIAN BUS

1. (SBU) On Thursday, June 15, 2006 the American Embassy
received reports of a claymore mine attack on a civilian bus
north east of Anuradhapura town in North Central Province. We
have been advised that at approximately 0740 on June 15,
2006, a government operated civilian passenger bus traveling
from Kebethigollewa (a remote village approximately 60
kilometers northeast of Anuradhapura) to Anuradhapura was
attacked. The police advise that the bus was carrying
approximately one hundred passengers and that at least 58 are
confirmed dead and approximately 30 injured. Many of the
casualties are thought to be children who were traveling to
school.

2. (SBU) According to the Sri Lankan police, the Army had
cleared the road traveled by the bus earlier in the morning.
The bus was blown apart by two remotely detonated claymore
mines. It is not known if the clearing teams missed the two
claymores or if the perpetrators planted them after the team
passed.

3. (SBU) The perpetrators of this attack have not been
identified but are believed to be LTTE. The area in which
the explosion occurred has a strong GSL presence but the LTTE
operates there as well. Mission policy prohibits travel by
USG employees to this area unless they have permission from
the DCM. No Mission employees are in the area and we are
unaware of any American citizens who reside in the area or
who were involved in the attack.
LUNSTEAD

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