The Colombo central bus station bombing was the car bombing of the central bus terminal of Colombo carried out on April 21, 1987, in Pettah, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The 80-pound (36 kg) bomb killed at least 113 people and left a 10-foot (3 m) crater in the ground.[3][4] The New York Times estimated 200 people had been injured.[5]
The bombing, which was chosen specifically to land on the time of the day in order to harm as many people as possible, produced an enormous explosion that could be heard ten miles away.[6] Six buses were trapped in the attack, causing numerous passengers to die in the fire as their buses burned. Heavy rainfall delayed rescue workers from arriving to the scene at time. Heaps of victims, including old people and children lay on the ground in agony before they were received by authorities.[7]
The Bank of Ceylon Pettah branch was also heavily damaged during the attack.[6] The attack had been attributed to the Tamil militant groups, EROS and the LTTE.[8][2]
After the bombing, strict security measures were undertaken, including a curfew on the entire district, and the army prevented people from entering the areas affected by the attack.[7]
In the immediate aftermath, Sinhalese mobs rioted across the streets of Colombo, pulling over cars to see if there were Tamils inside. Sri Lankan police led a massive intervention against rioters after some started stoning Tamil-owned stores, leading to heavy police presence in every corner of the city. The riots were eventually dispersed.[6]
^Sabaratnam, T (1996). The Murder of a Moderate: Political biography of Appapillai Amirthalingam. Dehiwela: Nivetha Publishers. p. 370.
^ ab"CHRONOLOGY-Major bombings in Sri Lanka blamed on Tamil Tigers". Reuters. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
^ "Timeline of the Tamil conflict". BBC. September 4, 2000. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
^"Sri Lankan police hold doctor in car bombing". United Press International. April 28, 1987. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
^Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Sri Lanka: Information on a LTTE bomb attack on the Colombo bus station in 1987". Refworld. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
^ abcRettie, John (2009-04-21). "From the archive: Colombo bus station bomb claims 150, 22 April 1987". the Guardian. from the original on 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
^ ab"Car Bomb Kills Close to 150 at Crowded Sri Lanka Bus Depot : 200 Wounded in Colombo Attack During Rush-Hour". Los Angeles Times. 1987-04-21. from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
^Sabaratnam, T (1996). The Murder of a Moderate: Political biography of Appapillai Amirthalingam. Dehiwela: Nivetha Publishers. p. 370.
External linksedit
BBC On This Day – Tamil Tigers blamed for bus garage blast
January 01, 1970
colombo, central, station, bombing, bombing, central, terminal, colombo, carried, april, 1987, pettah, colombo, lanka, pound, bomb, killed, least, people, left, foot, crater, ground, york, times, estimated, people, been, injured, part, lankan, civil, central, . The Colombo central bus station bombing was the car bombing of the central bus terminal of Colombo carried out on April 21 1987 in Pettah Colombo Sri Lanka The 80 pound 36 kg bomb killed at least 113 people and left a 10 foot 3 m crater in the ground 3 4 The New York Times estimated 200 people had been injured 5 Colombo central bus station bombingPart of the Sri Lankan Civil WarColombo central bus station bombing Central Colombo Show map of Central ColomboColombo central bus station bombing Colombo Municipality Show map of Colombo MunicipalityLocationPettah Colombo Sri LankaCoordinates6 56 4 92 N 79 51 17 28 E 6 9347000 N 79 8548000 E 6 9347000 79 8548000DateApril 21 1987 UTC 5 30 Attack typeCar bombingDeaths113 150PerpetratorEelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students 1 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 2 The bombing which was chosen specifically to land on the time of the day in order to harm as many people as possible produced an enormous explosion that could be heard ten miles away 6 Six buses were trapped in the attack causing numerous passengers to die in the fire as their buses burned Heavy rainfall delayed rescue workers from arriving to the scene at time Heaps of victims including old people and children lay on the ground in agony before they were received by authorities 7 The Bank of Ceylon Pettah branch was also heavily damaged during the attack 6 The attack had been attributed to the Tamil militant groups EROS and the LTTE 8 2 Contents 1 Aftermath 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksAftermath editAfter the bombing strict security measures were undertaken including a curfew on the entire district and the army prevented people from entering the areas affected by the attack 7 In the immediate aftermath Sinhalese mobs rioted across the streets of Colombo pulling over cars to see if there were Tamils inside Sri Lankan police led a massive intervention against rioters after some started stoning Tamil owned stores leading to heavy police presence in every corner of the city The riots were eventually dispersed 6 See also edit1997 Colombo World Trade Centre bombing 2008 Sri Lanka bus bombingsReferences edit Sabaratnam T 1996 The Murder of a Moderate Political biography of Appapillai Amirthalingam Dehiwela Nivetha Publishers p 370 a b CHRONOLOGY Major bombings in Sri Lanka blamed on Tamil Tigers Reuters 6 October 2008 Retrieved 18 April 2024 Timeline of the Tamil conflict BBC September 4 2000 Retrieved 2008 04 30 Sri Lankan police hold doctor in car bombing United Press International April 28 1987 Retrieved 2019 03 13 Refugees United Nations High Commissioner for Refworld Sri Lanka Information on a LTTE bomb attack on the Colombo bus station in 1987 Refworld Retrieved 2022 01 07 a b c Rettie John 2009 04 21 From the archive Colombo bus station bomb claims 150 22 April 1987 the Guardian Archived from the original on 2013 09 06 Retrieved 2022 01 07 a b Car Bomb Kills Close to 150 at Crowded Sri Lanka Bus Depot 200 Wounded in Colombo Attack During Rush Hour Los Angeles Times 1987 04 21 Archived from the original on 2021 04 21 Retrieved 2022 01 07 Sabaratnam T 1996 The Murder of a Moderate Political biography of Appapillai Amirthalingam Dehiwela Nivetha Publishers p 370 External links editBBC On This Day Tamil Tigers blamed for bus garage blast Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Colombo central bus station bombing amp oldid 1219918747, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
