Incident Summary:

11/08/2006: Perpetrators opened fire on military forces in civilian areas in Vakarai, North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. This caused retalitory fire from the military forces, which in turn killed 45 civilians, six of which were infants, and wounded 200 others. The perpetrators used these civilians as human shields, and prevented them from running away from the scene of the attack. There was also a school damaged in the attack. No claim of responsibility was reported, but it was believed that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was responsible.

GTD ID:
200611080003

When:
2006-11-08

Country:
Sri Lanka

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Eastern

City:
Vakarai

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Military
Name of Entity Sri Lankan Military
Specific Description Sri Lankan Soldiers
Nationality of Target Sri Lanka
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilians
Specific Description Sri Lankan Civilians
Nationality of Target Sri Lanka
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Explosives Projectile (rockets, mortars, RPGs, etc.)
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) No
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Insurgency/Guerilla Action
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 45 Fatalities / 200 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 45
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 200
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
National Counter Terrorism Center, 2006 Report on Terrorism