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Showing posts from February 20, 2009

Tamil Tiger planes 'raid Colombo'

Two planes from Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have attacked the capital, Colombo, officials say, injuring at least 40 people. A government office in the city's centre was hit and one plane was shot down by the international airport, which has been closed, officials said. The raid comes as the army has driven the Tigers into a shrinking zone of jungle in the north of Sri Lanka. The military said it had destroyed all the Tigers' runways. A witness told the BBC's Sinhala service that he saw a plane and then there was a huge explosion near Colombo's fort, in the city centre, close to many government offices. "We heard the anti-aircraft fire after the electricity supply of the city was cut off," the witness said. "Then we saw a very low flying aircraft. Immediately after the aircraft was sighted, we heard a huge explosion." The air force headquarters, which is in the same area, may have been the target, correspondents say. Air force jets scrambled Th

LTTE air raid thwarted; both LTTE terrorist aircraft destroyed - Colombo

The latest reports indicate that both LTTE aircraft entered into the Colombo aerospace were destroyed by the air defence system. One of the aircraft disabled by the anti anti air gunfire reportedly crashed on the Inland Revenue Department building. Two LTTE aircraft were seen in the air above the Colombo around 9.15 tonight defence sources reveal. Following the detection, air defence system was activated causing the two terrorist aircraft to abort their missions. According to the air force sources, the other terrorist aircraft has been destroyed and the body of the pilot found close to the Katunayake air base Meanwhile , the Inland Revenue Department in Colombo has received slight damages in the terrorist air raid. According to the hospital sources , at least 42 people have suffered injuries. More information will follow...