12-12-2004, 03:23 AM
<img src='http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40621000/jpg/_40621589_khan203afpbdy.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Mr Khan
<b>Two die in Colombo concert blast </b>
At least two people have been killed and 18 others injured in an explosion at a concert by an Indian Bollywood star in Colombo.
Police said a hand-grenade ripped through the front stands as Shahrukh Khan ended his performance on Saturday.
Doctors said all the victims appeared to be members of the audience, most of them injured by shrapnel. The two dead were reported to be a woman and child.
The Indian star and his troupe were unharmed.
Buddhist Monks objected to the event being staged on the anniversary of the death of a popular monk.
Their followers had earlier clashed near the venue with police who used teargas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse them.
Police said the grenade was detonated in the VIP section of the audience as the three-hour show was nearing its end.
Event of the year
"Two people were dead when they were brought in," Colombo national hospital director Hector Weerasinghe told Associated Press.
"There are another 18 injured admitted. Six of them are in a critical condition."
He said all the victims were Sri Lankan nationals.
The show, called Temptation 2004 and featuring a host of Indian film stars, was billed as Sri Lanka's biggest musical event of the year, with 10,000 people reported to have attended.
Buddhist monks had planned a peaceful protest during the performance, but they called it off after receiving a written apology from Mr Khan about the bad timing of the concert.
More than a dozen protesters who attacked cars and concert-goers were arrested.
The monks are a powerful force in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka.
Mr Khan began his concert by observing a minute's silence in memory of monk Gangodawila Soma who died a year ago.
The concert went ahead under tight security, with fans searched at four points before being allowed into the venue.
The area had earlier been inspected by anti-terrorism agents and police sniffer dogs.
<b>An investigation has been launched but police have ruled out Tamil Tiger involvement. </b>
bbc.com
Mr Khan
<b>Two die in Colombo concert blast </b>
At least two people have been killed and 18 others injured in an explosion at a concert by an Indian Bollywood star in Colombo.
Police said a hand-grenade ripped through the front stands as Shahrukh Khan ended his performance on Saturday.
Doctors said all the victims appeared to be members of the audience, most of them injured by shrapnel. The two dead were reported to be a woman and child.
The Indian star and his troupe were unharmed.
Buddhist Monks objected to the event being staged on the anniversary of the death of a popular monk.
Their followers had earlier clashed near the venue with police who used teargas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse them.
Police said the grenade was detonated in the VIP section of the audience as the three-hour show was nearing its end.
Event of the year
"Two people were dead when they were brought in," Colombo national hospital director Hector Weerasinghe told Associated Press.
"There are another 18 injured admitted. Six of them are in a critical condition."
He said all the victims were Sri Lankan nationals.
The show, called Temptation 2004 and featuring a host of Indian film stars, was billed as Sri Lanka's biggest musical event of the year, with 10,000 people reported to have attended.
Buddhist monks had planned a peaceful protest during the performance, but they called it off after receiving a written apology from Mr Khan about the bad timing of the concert.
More than a dozen protesters who attacked cars and concert-goers were arrested.
The monks are a powerful force in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka.
Mr Khan began his concert by observing a minute's silence in memory of monk Gangodawila Soma who died a year ago.
The concert went ahead under tight security, with fans searched at four points before being allowed into the venue.
The area had earlier been inspected by anti-terrorism agents and police sniffer dogs.
<b>An investigation has been launched but police have ruled out Tamil Tiger involvement. </b>
bbc.com
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