2006 Digampathana bombing

The 2006 Digampathaha (දිගම්පතහ, திகம்பதஹ) truck bombing, also known as Habarana massacre,[1] was a suicide truck bombing carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam against a convoy of 15 military buses on 16 October 2006 at Digampathaha (Incorrectly reported as Digampathana), in between the towns of Dambulla and Habarana, in Sri Lanka. The buses were carrying more than 200 (possibly 340[2]) sailors from Trincomalee who were going on leave.[3]

Not to be confused with Aluth Oya massacre.

2006 Digampathaha bombing
LocationDigampathaha, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Date16 October 2006
TargetSri Lankan Navy bus convoy
Attack type
Suicide truck bombing
WeaponsTruck bomb
DeathsAt least 101-112 (including bomber)
InjuredAt least 150
PerpetratorsLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
MotivePart of the Sri Lankan Civil War

The bombing killed between 92 and 103 sailors and wounded more than 150 people, including over 100 sailors.[4] The bombing also killed a number of civilians, including eight employees of the Sri Lankan military,[3] and wounded many passers-by and roadside traders.[2] The suicide bombing followed intense fighting in the Jaffna Peninsula that left 133 soldiers[5] and up to 200 LTTE fighters dead (although this number is unofficial, as the LTTE have reported losing only 22 fighters).[6] The attack was followed by government air strikes on LTTE territory, although the military claimed they were in response to an artillery attack and not the suicide bombing.[7]

In January 2009 Sri Lankan authorities arrested a suspect, Balachandran, who reportedly helped construct the bomb used in the attack.[8] The attack had been planned at least three months in advance.[9]

References
  1. Wijewardene, Ranjith (1 November 2006). "Brandix adopts sophisticated ERP platform". Lanka Page. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  2. "Sri Lanka's bloodiest suicide bombing kills 103 people". Yahoo! News. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006. (Link dead as of 15 January 2007)
  3. "Over 100 dead in Sri Lanka suicide bombing". Yahoo! News India. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006.
  4. Knight, Sam (16 October 2006). "Suicide bombing kills more than 100 Sri Lankan sailors". Times Online. London. Retrieved 4 November 2006.
  5. "Suicide bombing kills over 100 in Sri Lanka". Yahoo! News. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006. (Link dead as of 15 January 2007)
  6. "Analysis: Sri Lanka military setbacks". BBC. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006.
  7. "Fighter jets pound suspected rebel camp after suicide bombing kills 95 sailors". USA Today. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. http://www.lankatimes.com/fullstory.php?id=19739%5B%5D

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