Unsolved case · 2008
The short answer
On 6 April 2008, an alleged suicide bomber killed 15 people, including a government minister and a national athletics coach, at the start of a marathon race during New Year celebrations in Weliweriya, Sri Lanka.
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Suggest coverage for 2008 Weliveriya bombingOn 6 April 2008, an explosion attributed to a suicide bomber struck the start of a marathon race in Weliweriya, Sri Lanka, held as part of Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations. The blast killed 15 people and wounded 90 others. Among the dead were Sri Lanka's national athletics coach Lakshman de Alwis, politician Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, former Olympic runner K.A. Karunaratne, and army officer Lt Colonel Udayadeera.
The Sri Lankan government attributed the attack to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, commonly known as the Tamil Tigers), citing that minister Fernandopulle had been a vocal critic of the group.
Following the bombing, Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) worked to identify the bomber. Investigators determined that the bomber was a Tamil man who had been carrying an identity card bearing a Muslim name. Further investigation uncovered that he had also held a second identity card under a Tamil name, which he had used to open a bank account to fund his expenses related to the attack.
This discovery of the second identity allowed the CID to trace individuals connected to the bomber, including a handler. The handler reportedly escaped to areas under LTTE control before being apprehended. Separately, a female Tamil individual was arrested for questioning in connection with the case. According to reporting on the investigation, she died by suicide while in custody, having swallowed a cyanide capsule that had been concealed inside her vagina.
A suicide bombing occurred at the start of a marathon race in Weliweriya, Sri Lanka, during Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations, killing 15 people and wounding 90 others.
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
Politician killed in the bombing; described as a vocal critic of the Tamil Tigers[3]
Former Olympic runner, killed in the bombing[3]
Sri Lanka's national athletics coach, killed in the bombing[3]
Army officer (Lt Colonel), killed in the bombing[3]
Coverage is not a source: every fact in this file rests on the records below.
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