SRI LANKA: COLOMBO: BOMB ATTACK SITUATION UPDATE

Natural Sound Scores of people have died and hundreds more been injured in a bomb attack in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. A truck packed with explosives detonated in a massive blast in the centre of the city. The bombing is similar to previous attacks on Colombo by separatist Tamil Tiger rebels - who are being blamed for the latest devastating blast. The bomb blew the front off the Central Bank and left a crater eight feet (2.4 meters) deep. Both the bank and surrounding buildings and the streets outside were packed with people. The city's main hospital has been swamped with the dead and injured. No-one has yet admitted carrying out the attack, but the Sri Lankan authorities have blamed the Tamil Tigers. Reports from the Sri Lankan capital suggest it was a well-planned attack. An attack like this has been expected since the army captured the Tigers main base - Jaffna - in December. The Colombo city centre is home to the headquarters of both the Army and Navy and security has been increased. But the attackers created a diversion allowing the truck bomb through. Some eyewitness say 2 or 3 gunmen arrived on a motorised rickshaw and opened fire before the bomb went off. Most of the dead and injured worked in the Central Bank and the headquarters of the country's major financial group - Ceylinco - which were wrecked. Four other large buildings - mostly banks and offices were also badly damaged. Rescue work continues - with both survivors and bodies being pulled from debris. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/c21784fff5e11769634a11afb9419af2 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork