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| Sri Lanka rebels in new air raid | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Tamil Tiger rebels have carried out an air raid on targets in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. | |
| Two fuel facilities were bombed in what the rebels said was in response to an army strike on their positions. | |
| One gas storage depot was set ablaze, officials said. It is not clear if there were any casualties. | |
| Government troops responded by firing anti-aircraft guns and cutting power to Colombo, its airport and an adjoining army base. | |
| The public has been warned to be on guard after the Tigers unveiled their own "air force" with two deadly aerial bombings in the space of a month. | |
| Anti-aircraft fire | |
| A Tiger military spokesman said that two air squadrons took part in the raid late at night. | |
| I heard terrible explosions and I saw red sparks Josef PenkavaWitness Colombo residents said they heard at least two powerful explosions in the city. | |
| "I heard terrible explosions and I saw red sparks flying upwards from the ground and I heard shooting," Josef Penkava told the BBC News website. | |
| Many residents were watching the Sri Lankan national cricket team play Australia in the World Cup final when the army responded with anti-aircraft guns and the city was blacked out. | |
| "We were watching the match when the lights went off. Within minutes the night sky was brightened with anti-aircraft fire," Shivantha Fernandopulle said. | |
| "After about 30 minutes the firing ceased. After a lull of about an hour there was a second round of firing. A plane could be seen flying westwards towards the Indian Ocean." | |
| In March, the Tigers carried out their first aerial attack on the Colombo air base, killing three air force personnel and injuring 16 other people. | In March, the Tigers carried out their first aerial attack on the Colombo air base, killing three air force personnel and injuring 16 other people. |
| A second aerial bombing, of a northern military complex last Tuesday, killed six soldiers. | |
| Last Thursday, Colombo's airport was shut down and anti-aircraft guns were fired after reports of unidentified aircraft approaching the capital. | |
| That incident proved to be a false alarm. | |
| Are you in Colombo? Did you witness the air raids or see anti-aircraft fire? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. | |
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