Masked men on shooting spree:

Eight injured, one killed

Rafik JALALDEEN

At least one person was killed and eight others injured when a group of masked men opened fire indiscriminately near the Maligawatte Jummah Mosque yesterday afternoon.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said when the people were coming out of the mosque after Jummah prayers around 1.30 pm, six masked gunmen opened fire with T56 riffles and fled the scene in a blue coloured van.

"Nine persons injured in the incident were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital. One succumbed to his injuries after admission to the hospital," he added.

Maligawatte police are investigating.