Feb 03, Colombo: At least twelve people were killed and over 100 others were wounded when a female suicide bomber exploded herself inside the Fort Railway Station this afternoon. The deadly blast came hours after a small bomb explosion at the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens, police said.

They said the suicide bomber triggered her bomb when the security forces started conducting a random check inside the railway station as part of security measures for the Independence Day celebration tomorrow.

“We believed the suicide bomber had no other alternative, but explode herself when the security forces were checking everyone inside the station,” a senior police official said. He also said that among the dead are two children and several women, while a large number of children and women are also among the injured.

In Dehiwala, a small explosion was reported, injuring four civilians who were visiting the zoo. “All of the injured were not in critical condition and a special inquiry is on to find the attackers,” a police spokesperson said.

He said the Zoological Gardens have been closed to the public until inquiries are over.