Casualties mount in Trinco explosion

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 April 2000, 19:41 GMT]
Eight people including a policeman were killed and 72 others were injured in an explosion at a music consert in Trincomalee around 9.50 p.m today, according to hospital sources.

Witnesses said the explosion occurred behind the stage, about 10 minutes before the music concert was to start.

The wounded have been rushed to the Trincomalee hospital. Eight of them are in serious condition, the hospital sources said.

The concert was the final arrangement of the new year function organised by a private Radio and Television station, 'Sakthi'. Several sports competitions and cultural activities took place earlier today.

About 8000 people are reported to have attended the concert at McKeizer stadium in the eastern town.

The police are conducting investigations. It is not known who was behind the explosion.