Fake pregnant suicide bomber kills eight in Sri Lanka
Twenty-six others also were injured.
The air force later launched attacks on areas controlled by the Tamil Tiger rebel movement, a rebel official and witnesses reported.
The attack and apparent military retaliation were further blows to an already fraying ceasefire that took effect four years ago on this island nation near the southern tip of India. At least 89 people, including 43 soldiers or police, have died in violence this month.
There was no immediate comment from Sri Lanka’s leaders, but European truce monitors said the suicide attack “could jeopardise any possibility for future talks” between the government and the rebels.
Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka suffered serious abdominal injuries, underwent surgery and was in stable condition after the brazen attack on the army’s heavily fortified headquarters, military and medical officials said.
Police blamed the ethnic Tamil insurgents, who often have used women to carry out suicide attacks in their long fight for a separate homeland on the island, whose government is dominated by the Sinhalese majority.
A rebel official and witnesses said the military responded hours later with air strikes and mortar attacks in the guerrilla-held region of Trincomalee, 217 kilometres north-east of the capital, Colombo.
The suicide bombing occurred inside the Sri Lankan military’s headquarters complex, which is protected by fences and troops guarding all entrances.
The attacker, killed instantly, entered the grounds using fake identification and claiming to have a prenatal appointment at the army’s hospital.
She was wearing explosives that made her appear pregnant.
