COLOMBO EAC CONVENED ON 07/07/04 TO DISCUSS

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001121 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DS FOR DS/IP/SA AND DS/IP/ITA; CA/EX; SA, SA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC CE SUBJECT: COLOMBO EAC CONVENED ON 07/07/04 TO DISCUSS SUICIDE BOMBER ¶1. (SBU) A Colombo core EAC meeting was convened on 07/07/04 at 1400 after a suicide bomber detonated at 1215 at the Colpetty Police Station (located north of the Embassy on Galle Road.) The EAC reviewed post's security posture in light of the bombing and determined that a warden message would be disseminated at once and a draft Public Announcement would be sent to Washington for clearance and dissemination. Travel to Batticaloa on the east coast would be added to the areas for which COM permission must be requested. Details follow. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The A/RSO opened the meeting and outlined what is known about the bombing: the intended target was believed to be a Tamil politician who had an office near the police station; the metal detector at the office went off when the bomber attempted to gain admission to that office; the police removed the bomber and took her to the Colpetty Police Station, located adjacent to the office; and that the bomber denotated once inside the police station. Five persons are dead, including the bomber, and up to eleven are injured. The bombing is presumed to be related to ongoing intra-Tamil violence in the Batticaloa area in eastern Sri Lanka. ¶3. (SBU) The EAC determined that the lockdown status imposed immediately after the bombing could be lifted. The north gate to the Embassy is to remain closed for vehicular traffic for the remainder of the working day and all vehicular traffic is to use the south gate. ¶4. (SBU) A Warden Message will be issued that includes a statement about the suicide bombing today and advising all American citizens to avoid travel to Batticaloa. ¶5. (SBU) Septels will be sent covering the bombing in greater detail. LUNSTEAD