Incident Summary:
02/27/2007: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a mortar attack against two helicopters carrying diplomats around 8:55am in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. The diplomats included the US, Canadian, Italian, Japanese, German and EU ambassadors, and the UN head of mission. The US and Italian ambassadors were injured in the attack, as were four policemen, 5 military personnel, and a child. The LTTE said in their claim of responsibility that they were unaware of who was onboard, and that they had thought they were retaliating against Sri Lankan forces who were presumed to be in the area. However, multiple sources refute the LTTE claims that they were unaware of who was onboard the helicopters.
Overview
GTD ID:
200702270012
When:
2007-02-27
Country:
Sri Lanka
Region:
South Asia
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Eastern
City:
Batticaloa
Location Details:
Helicopters at Webber Stadium in Batticaloa
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Bombing/Explosion |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Government (Diplomatic) |
Name of Entity |
Government diplomats |
Specific Description |
Diplomats from numerous countries |
Nationality of Target |
International |
Target Type: Police |
Name of Entity |
Sri Lankan police |
Specific Description |
Police in the vicinity of the attack |
Nationality of Target |
Sri Lanka |
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
Name of Entity |
Sri Lankan civilians |
Specific Description |
Child and other civilians in the vicinity of the attack |
Nationality of Target |
Sri Lanka |
Additional Information
Hostages |
No |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
Yes |
Extent of Property Damage |
Unknown |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Explosives |
Projectile (rockets, mortars, RPGs, etc.) |
Weapon Details |
At least 6 120-mm mortars |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Additional Information |
The attack occurred when the diplomats were exiting the two Sri Lankan Air Force helicopters (one was a Bell 212 and the other a Mi 17). The Webber Stadium, where the helicopters landed, was being used as a military airfield. Besides the injuries to the US and Italian Ambassadors, four policemen, 5 military personnel (3 STF and two airmen), and a child were also injured. Sources noted that both Ambassadors were able to resume at least some of their duties during the day, which involved representing donor nations and visiting Batticaloa to review development in the area, which had been hit hard by the 2004 tsunami. The LTTE claimed responsibility for the incident, but it was unclear from the sources whether it was in a written letter, a phone call, or through another form of media. The LTTE said they were not aware that the diplomats were onboard and that they thought they were attacking Sri Lankan forces. However, the government proposed that the LTTE had found out in advance about the event from their supporters in Batticaloa. |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
0 Fatalities / 12 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
0 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
12 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
Krishan Francis, "U.S., Italian envoys hurt in Sri Lanka," Associated Press, February 27, 2007. |
Amal Jayasinghe, "Foreign diplomats injured in Sri Lanka attack," Agence France-Presse, February 27, 2007. |
Dasun Edirisinghe, "Diplomats survive LTTE shell attack in Batticaloa," The Island Online, February 28, 2007. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties