Sri Lanka zoo blast injures four
COLOMBO (AFP) — At least four visitors were injured after a suspected hand grenade exploded in Sri Lanka's main zoo on Sunday, one day ahead of celebrations to mark 60 years of independence for the island nation.
The blast ripped through the aviary of the Dehiwala zoo just outside the capital Colombo, police said.
The four people, who were wounded by shrapnel, were rushed to a nearby hospital, police said.
The blast caused panic at the crowded zoo and police said they rushed reinforcements to the area to restore order.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which came one day after a powerful bomb exploded onboard a bus, killing 20 people in the north-central town of Dambulla.
Sri Lankan police and security forces have maintained a high state of alert ahead of Monday's celebrations to mark Freedom Day, when the country won independence from Britain.
