Children among four injured in Tiger claymore attack

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

COLOMBO: Four civilians including two schoolchildren sustained injuries as Tiger terrorists detonated a claymore mine targeting a crowded civilian bus plying from Chettikulam to Vavuniya around 8 a.m. yesterday, a spokesman for the Media Centre for National Security said.

The rear of the bus carrying more than 60 passengers, most schoolchildren, was completely destroyed in the attack at Cheddikulam, the spokesman added.

A soldier, two women aged 31 and 55 and two schoolchildren aged 14 and 18 sustained injuries in the attack.

In a search operation conducted immediately after the claymore attack, troops arrested three suspects along with three hand grenades and handed over them to Police.

Meanwhile, a civilian and two soldiers on route clearing patrol sustained injuries as Tiger cadres detonated another claymore mine in Makiyapiddi in Jaffna around 8.15 a.m. yesterday.