Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO588
2008-06-16 10:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: SUICIDE BLAST KILLS 12 POLICEMEN,
how-toVZCZCXRO0223 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #0588 1681053 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161053Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8295 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0959 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7948 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 6120 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4447 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2115 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4420 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3520 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8554 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5999 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0690 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2824 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000588
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DC/IP/SCA, DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SUICIDE BLAST KILLS 12 POLICEMEN,
INJURES OVER 20 IN VAVUNIYA
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000588
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DC/IP/SCA, DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SUICIDE BLAST KILLS 12 POLICEMEN,
INJURES OVER 20 IN VAVUNIYA
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) A little after 7:00 am on June 16 a suicide bomber
on a motorbike killed himself and 12 police personnel in
front of the Senior Superintendent of Police's (SSP) office
in Vavuniya. RSO FSN's contacts reported that 19 additional
police personnel were admitted to the general hospital in
Vavuniya with injuries. Vavuniya hospital officials report
admitting as many as 40 injured persons, including civilians.
According to pro-LTTE website TamilNet, the attacker rode
into the police barrack on a motorcycle while a group of
policemen were emerging from the SSP's office. The barrack
is located on the main A9 highway linking the
Tiger-controlled Vanni to the south. The government has
blamed the attack on the LTTE. Post has received no reports
indicating that private American citizens were injured or
killed in the blast.
2. (C) Some police and intelligence sources have speculated
that Senior Superintendent of Police Bernard Silva may have
been the target. However, Silva left on vacation beginning
June 15 and is currently in Colombo. Others say the attack
may have been retaliation for recent deep penetration unit
operations north of Vavuniya. RSO FSN contacts noted that
the LTTE has seldom used suicide attacks on nonspecific
targets, or used specialized Black Tiger suicide cadre for
such a low level target. They suggest that this latest
attack may indicate a broadening of potential LTTE suicide
targets.
MOORE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DC/IP/SCA, DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS ASEC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SUICIDE BLAST KILLS 12 POLICEMEN,
INJURES OVER 20 IN VAVUNIYA
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) A little after 7:00 am on June 16 a suicide bomber
on a motorbike killed himself and 12 police personnel in
front of the Senior Superintendent of Police's (SSP) office
in Vavuniya. RSO FSN's contacts reported that 19 additional
police personnel were admitted to the general hospital in
Vavuniya with injuries. Vavuniya hospital officials report
admitting as many as 40 injured persons, including civilians.
According to pro-LTTE website TamilNet, the attacker rode
into the police barrack on a motorcycle while a group of
policemen were emerging from the SSP's office. The barrack
is located on the main A9 highway linking the
Tiger-controlled Vanni to the south. The government has
blamed the attack on the LTTE. Post has received no reports
indicating that private American citizens were injured or
killed in the blast.
2. (C) Some police and intelligence sources have speculated
that Senior Superintendent of Police Bernard Silva may have
been the target. However, Silva left on vacation beginning
June 15 and is currently in Colombo. Others say the attack
may have been retaliation for recent deep penetration unit
operations north of Vavuniya. RSO FSN contacts noted that
the LTTE has seldom used suicide attacks on nonspecific
targets, or used specialized Black Tiger suicide cadre for
such a low level target. They suggest that this latest
attack may indicate a broadening of potential LTTE suicide
targets.
MOORE