Sri Lanka Verifies 21 Dead in Airport Jetliner Bombing

Authorities confirmed that 21 people were killed and at least 40 wounded when an explosion, apparently caused by a time bomb, tore through an Air Lanka jetliner at the Colombo airport Saturday as passengers were boarding.

Several Japanese and at least a half dozen Europeans from Britain, France and Germany were among the victims, according to state radio and other reports, but no identities were given.

The explosion broke the plane in two, sent plumes of black smoke skyward and shattered glass panels in the main terminal building. The official Sri Lankan news agency Lankapuvath said the blast was believed to have been caused by a bomb in the rear of the plane.

The government issued a statement blaming Tamil militants, but police said no group or individual had asserted responsibility.

Separatists Are Suspected

“It is . . . suspected that a separatist terrorist group has been responsible for this explosion that claimed the lives of so many innocent people,” the statement said.

“This is plain terrorism,” said National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali, who visited the scene accompanied by senior military officials.

Police said the bomb was placed inside beef carcasses that Sri Lanka regularly exports to the neighboring Maldives archipelago. Meat was scattered all over the airport’s tarmac and flights were diverted to other airports in the region.

Passengers were boarding the Air Lanka Lockheed L-1011 at 9:10 a.m., 20 minutes before the scheduled departure, when the explosion occurred, state radio said.

Bodies on Tarmac

A Western pilot who spoke on condition of anonymity said he saw bodies lying on the tarmac and cargo, such as chickens and vegetables, strewn over the area. Passengers were running and screaming, he said.

One injured passenger, a member of the French navy, told reporters that he had not yet taken his seat when the explosion rocked the aircraft. “I was lucky to escape alive,” said the man, who would only identify himself as Redato.

The airport was closed for four hours after the explosion.

Arrival of Mediators

The security minister said the explosion was timed to coincide with the arrival of an Indian delegation seeking to mediate between the Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan government.

The Hindu Tamils are a minority in the island nation, formerly known as Ceylon. About 70% of Sri Lanka’s 15 million people are Sinhalese Buddhists, and Tamil separatists have been fighting for an independent state in the north.

The jumbo jet had arrived from London via Zurich, Switzerland, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.