Dambulla carnage kills 18, injures 70

A massive bomb explosion ripped through a crowded passenger bus in Dambulla last morning killing 18 and injuring more than 70, police said. The bomb had been placed on the overhead rack at the centre of the bus and it had been detonated using a mobile phone, police investigations have revealed.

The explosion ripped apart the section of the roof and the side of the bus trapping many of the victims. Soon after the explosion a woman who was seen trying to flee from the scene was apprehended by the public and handed over to the police. Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) team rushed to Dambulla and were questioning the suspect as well as the driver and the conductor of the bus. Police spokesman N.K. Illangakoone said the driver and the conductor of the bus noticed two suspicious persons getting into the ill- fated bus at Matale and getting off at Naula and will be able to identify the two men if they saw them again.