A pipe bomb was discovered at Bandaranaike International
A bomb has been found at Sri Lanka’s main airport just hours after 207 people were killed in a series of targetted explosions in the country on Easter Sunday.
A six-foot pipe bomb was discovered on a road close to Bandaranaike International – also known as Katunayake Airport or Colombo International – while members of the airforce were conducting a routine patrol. The area was then placed on lockdown and a controlled explosion was carried out to make the device safe.
Air Force Spokesman Gihan Seneviratne told the Sri Lankan Sunday Times: “A PVC pipe which was six feet in length containing explosives in it was discovered.”
Sky News journalist Neville Lazarus posted on Twitter: “Colombo International Airport in lock down. Security drill on a suspect package. Just heard a blast in the distance. Hope what ever it was was diffused / destroyed.”
At least 207 people were killed and 450 injured earlier in the day when a series of bombs were coordinated to explode at churches and luxury hotels in the South Asian country. Five British citizens are confirmed to have been among the dead.
Eight blasts were reported, including at three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo’s Kochchikade district, and the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels. Thirteen people have been arrested in connection to the attacks so far.
