US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1120

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001120 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS 
NSC FOR E.MILLARD 
USAID FOR MARK WARD AND JIM KUNDER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2014 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, PGOV, CASC, CE, MIssion Security, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT: POTENTIAL SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATES AT COLOMBO 
POLICE STATION 
 
REF: COLOMBO-OPS CENTER 07-07-04 TELCON 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.  Reason 1.5 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) At 12:15 pm on July 7, 2004, a potential suicide 
bomber detonated at the Colpetty (Kollupitiya) Police Station 
in Colombo.  According to news reports, the bomber was caught 
at a nearby government ministry building and brought to the 
police station for further investigation.  Sri Lankan 
military and police sources have confirmed to Embassy 
officials that it was a female suicide bomber, who detonated 
herself once inside the police station.  It appears that four 
police are dead, in addition to the bomber, with 
approximately eleven others (police officers and civilians) 
injured. 
 
2.  (SBU) The police station is located directly across the 
street from the British High Commission, which shares a wall 
with Mission's chancery compound.  There was no damage to the 
compound from the blast and no Embassy employees were 
injured.  As far as we know, no other Americans were injured. 
 
3.  (C) A more detailed report on the situation, including 
suggested language for a travel advisory, will be forthcoming 
by COB Colombo time. 
LUNSTEAD