List of attacks attributed to the LTTE explained

The following is a list of chronological attacks attributed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers.[1] [2] [3] The attacks include massacres, bombings, robberies, ethnic cleansing, military battles and assassinations of civilian and military targets. The LTTE is a separatist militant group that fought for a separate Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka between 1976 and 2009. The rebel group has been banned by 33 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the 27 member nations of the European Union.

In opposition to this list, there is also the List of attacks on civilians attributed to Sri Lankan government forces.

Notable and deadliest attacks

Attack Date Location Death toll Sources
11 June 1990 600–774 Police officers [4] [5]
18 July 1996 1,498 officers and soldiers KIA or MIA (including unknown number of surrendered per the military, 50 police and 80 civilians) [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
29 September 1987 – 8 October 1987 200+ [11]
3 August 1990 147 [12]
14 May 1985 146 [13]
17 April 1987 127 [14]
16 October 1995 120
11 August 1990 Eravur, Batticaloa District 116-173 [15] [16]
21 April 1987 113 [17]
15 October 1991 109 [18]
16 October 2006 99–103 soldiers [19] [20]
31 January 1996 91
Alanchipothana massacre 29 April 199269 [21]
13 July 1990 Kurukkalmadam, Batticaloa District 68-168 [22] [23] [24]
15 June 2006 66 [25]
24 July 1996 64 [26]
30 March 1987 63 [27]
30 November 1984 62 [28]
21 June 1991 60 [29]
29 September 1998 55
18 September 1999 54 [30]
24 October 1994 Thotalanga, Colombo 52 [31] [32]
Mahakongaskada massacre 10 October 1988 44 [33]
25 May 1995 42 [34]
2 July 1987 35 [35]
Erakkandy massacre 2 July 1997 34 [36] [37]
Bogamuyaya massacre 23 January 1991 29 [38]
Buttala bus bomb 16 January 2008 28 [39]
25 April 2008 26 [40]
6 June 2008 23 [41]
8 June 2000 22 [42] [43]
3 May 1986 21 [44]
Havelock Road bombing/Assassination of Ranjan Wijeratne2 March 1991 Havelock Road, Colombo 19 [45]
25 January 1998 17 [46] [47] [48]
21 May 1991 15 [49] [50]
15 October 1997 15 [51]
6 January 2007 15 [52]
10 March 2009 14 [53]
1 May 1993 11 [54] [55]
3 February 2008 11 [56]
1 December 1984 11
23 April 2006 6 [57]
20 February 2009 2 LTTE pilots [58]

Notes

*.This is not the complete list, refer to the attacks by decades for a complete list of attacks

Attacks by decade

Below are the deadliest attacks from each decade.

1970s

See main article: article and List of attacks attributed to the LTTE, 1970s.

1979
Date Attack Location Sinhalese Tamils Muslims Death toll Sources
S. A. Emmanuel of Chankanai, Thaadi Thangarajah of Kondavil, A. Krishnagol of Velvettiturai, T. Poopalasingham of Chunnakam and A. Sivarajah of Thondamannar are executed by the LTTE for providing evidence against them to the police. Jaffna District55[59]
PC Gnanasambandan, PC Sivanesan, Inspector Guruswamy, S. Swarnarajah and his wife are executed by the LTTE.Jaffna District55

1980s

See main article: article and List of attacks attributed to the LTTE, 1980s.

1985

1990s

See main article: article and List of attacks attributed to the LTTE, 1990s.

1990
Date Attack Location Sinhalese Tamils Muslims Death toll Sources
11 June 1990 massacre of Sri Lankan Police officers

Over 600 unarmed police officers are shot dead by the LTTE in Police Stations across eastern Sri Lanka

600–774 [61]
3 August Kattankudy mosque massacre

147 Muslim males were gunned down in two mosque during evening prayers by the LTTE.

147 147 [62]
11 August 1990 Eravur massacre

Dozens of Muslim villagers killed by the LTTE in Eravur.

116-173 116-173 [63] [64]

2000s

See main article: article and List of attacks attributed to the LTTE, 2000s.

2006

Attacks by type

Suicide bombings

See main article: article and Suicide bombings in Sri Lanka.

Assassinations

See main article: article and List of people assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Rohan . Gunaratna . Intelligence failures exposed by Tamil Tiger airport attack . 2001-11-03 . Jane's Information Group . 2007-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070303021604/http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir010903_1_n.shtml . 2007-03-03 . dead .
  2. News: Consular Information Sheet – Sri Lanka . 2007-04-11 . U.S. Department of State . Bureau of Consular Affairs . 2007-04-27 .
  3. News: Audrey Kurth Cronin . Huda Aden . Adam Frost . Benjamin Jones . amp . CRS Report for Congress, Foreign Terrorist Organizations . 2004-02-06 . The Library of Congress . Bureau of Consular Affairs . 2007-04-27 .
  4. Web site: Recalling the saddest day in Lankan Police history . 2011-06-12 . 2011 . Lanka Newspapers . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110615103423/http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2011/6/67843.html . 2011-06-15 .
  5. Web site: Killing of 774 policemen. 2011-06-12. 2011. Rivira. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615061339/http://www.rivira.lk/2011/06/12/ranabima.htm. 2011-06-15. dead.
  6. Book: Hashim . Ahmed . When Counterinsurgency Wins: Sri Lanka's Defeat of the Tamil Tigers . 2013 . . Philadelphia . 978-0-8122-4452-6 . 104–105 .
  7. Web site: U.S. Department of State Sri Lanka Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996 . state.gov . US State Department . 23 October 2023.
  8. Sivaram . S. D. . Mullaitivu: A Shattering Blow War Strategy . . 15 August 1996 . XV . 8 . 11–12 . Sutton, U.K. . 0266-4488 . 3 September 2011.
  9. http://sundaytimes.lk/961013/sitrep.html Situation Report, By Iqbal Athas
  10. News: Borham . Maneshka . Soldiers missing in action: Anguished families still knocking on doors . 2 July 2023 . Sunday Observer.
  11. Book: Rubin . Barnett . Cycles of Violence: Human Rights in Sri Lanka Since the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement . Human Rights Watch . 8 December 2018. 9780938579434 . 1987 .
  12. Xinhua, 147 Muslims Massacred by Tamil "Tigers" in Sri Lanka, Colombo, August 4, 1990
  13. News: Timeline of the Tamil conflict . 2000-09-04 . BBC News . 2007-05-16 .
  14. http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/6bdc202089eb97848025671a00590c8c?OpenDocument Letter sent by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the Centre for Human Rights
  15. News: Tamils Suspected in Massacre . Reuter. 23 February 2021 . India Abroad . 17 August 1990. .
  16. Human Rights in Sri Lanka: An Update. Asia Watch. 12 March 1991. 23 February 2021.
  17. News: CHRONOLOGY-Major bombings in Sri Lanka blamed on Tamil Tigers . 18 April 2024 . . 6 October 2008.
  18. Web site: 1987: THE BUBBLE BURSTS, Chapter 6. . 2006-12-31 . UTHR(J) .
  19. News: Analysis: Sri Lanka military setbacks . . 2006-10-16 . 2006-11-04 . Dumeetha . Luthra.
  20. https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=19928
  21. News: Massacres In The Polonnaruwa District . 2006. UTHR(J) .
  22. Web site: Welcome to UTHRJ: Report 7, Chapter 2 . uthr.org.
  23. Web site: FROM BURNING HOUSES TO BURNING BODIES . Amnesty.
  24. Refugee Status Appeals Authority. 19 April 2006.
  25. News: Military 'killed Lanka aid staff' . 2006-08-30 . BBC News . August 30, 2006.
  26. News: Tamil Arrested in Sri Lanka Train Bombing. The New York Times. 1996-09-04.
  27. Web site: Colonel Kittu, A long forgotten ruthless leader, a Tamil movie wants to celebrate. 2016-08-17.
  28. News: LTTE genocide at Kent and Dollar Farms . Daily News . 29 May 2009 . 21 April 2012 .
  29. News: Sri Lanka Bomb Said to Kill Up to 60 (Published 1991) . The New York Times . 22 June 1991 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230629110759/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/22/world/sri-lanka-bomb-said-to-kill-up-to-60.html . 2023-06-29 . live .
  30. News: Pre-dawn horror in Ampara: 54 killed as LTTE unleashed terror on villagers . The Sunday Times . 19 September 1999 . 21 April 2012 . Kamalendra, Chris.
  31. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/25/world/latest-killing-of-a-sri-lanka-politician-fits-a-familiar-pattern.html Latest Killing of a Sri Lanka Politician Fits a Familiar Pattern
  32. http://www.ceylontoday.lk/71-15434-news-detail-gamini-dissanayake-the-last-of-men.html Gamini Dissanayake, the last of men
  33. Web site: Year 1988 LTTE Atrocities . 28 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150528015829/http://defence.lk/LTTE/atro.asp?id=1988 . 28 May 2015 . dead.
  34. News: Lighting a candle in the storm . The Sunday Times . 4 October 1998 . 21 April 2012 . Kamalendran, Chris.
  35. News: LTTE's gun culture continues . 2007-06-03 . The Sunday Observer . 2007-06-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070630174939/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/06/03/main_Editorial.asp . 2007-06-30 . live .
  36. Web site: Tides Of Violence .
  37. Web site: Sri lanka Briefly .
  38. Web site: WORLD : Rebels Slaughter 29 in Sri Lanka . Los Angeles Times . 23 January 1991.
  39. Web site: correspondent . Randeep Ramesh, South Asia . Tamil Tigers kill 28 with bus bomb . The Guardian . en . 16 January 2008.
  40. Web site: Sri Lanka fears more bombings as bus toll hits 26 France 24 . 21 May 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080521041148/http://www.france24.com/en/20080426-sri-lanka-fears-more-bombings-bus-toll-hits-26 . 21 May 2008 .
  41. News: Deadly blasts hit Sri Lanka buses . 6 June 2008.
  42. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jun/08/srilanka Sri Lanka suicide bomber kills 22
  43. http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political/disciplined-and-respected-political-culture-soon-president Disciplined and respected political culture soon
  44. News: 1986: Bomb kills 21 in Sri Lanka . . 3 May 1986 . 2008-04-30 .
  45. https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-assassination-of-ranjan-wijeratne/ The Assassination Of Ranjan Wijeratne
  46. News: Eleven die in Sri Lankan temple suicide bomb . BBC . 25 January 1998 . 8 April 2012.
  47. News: Religious ceremonies to commemorate the LTTE attack on Temple of tooth in Sri Lanka . Colombo Page . 25 January 2009 . 11 April 2012 . Sri Lanka . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093342/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_09/January2565223RA.html . 2 April 2015 . dead .
  48. Book: Sri Lanka: Current Issues and Historical Background . . Nubin, Walter . 2003 . New York . 11 . 978-1-59033-573-4.
  49. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5122032.stm Tamil Tiger 'regret' over Gandhi
  50. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/21/newsid_2504000/2504739.stm 1991: Bomb kills India's former leader Rajiv Gandhi
  51. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/british-tourists-wounded-in-tamil-tiger-bomb-blast-1236155.html British tourists wounded in Tamil Tiger bomb blast
  52. Web site: Gulfnews: Bus bomb kills 15 in southern Sri Lanka . 29 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929130937/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/01/07/10095117.html . 29 September 2007 . dead.
  53. News: Sri Lanka 'suicide bomb kills 14' . 10 March 2009.
  54. News: Suicide Bomber Kills President of Sri Lanka (Published 1993) . The New York Times . 2 May 1993 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230409031717/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/02/world/suicide-bomber-kills-president-of-sri-lanka.html?pagewanted=1 . 2023-04-09 . live . Gargan . Edward A. .
  55. http://www.cfr.org/separatist-terrorism/liberation-tigers-tamil-eelam-aka-tamil-tigers-sri-lanka-separatists/p9242 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (aka Tamil Tigers) (Sri Lanka, separatists)
  56. Web site: Suicide Bomb Hits Sri Lankan Rail Station . CBS News. 24 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160619/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/suicide-bomb-hits-sri-lankan-rail-station/ . 24 September 2015 . dead.
  57. News: Gomarankadawala: "We need more security say villagers . The Sunday Times . 30 April 2006 . 21 April 2012 . Gunananda, A.T.M..
  58. News: The Australian . Kamikaze raid shows the Tamil Tigers have not been tamed . 2009-09-22 . 2009-02-23 . Amanda . Hodge . https://web.archive.org/web/20090508100212/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25091354-25837,00.html . 2009-05-08 . dead .
  59. Book: Pathak, Saroj . War Or Peace in Sri Lanka . Popular Prakshan . January 2005 . 978-81-7991-199-0.
  60. News: Timeline of the Tamil conflict . . 2000-09-04 . 2007-12-15.
  61. News: Sri Lanka Human Rights Practices, 1995 . US State Department . . March 1996 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050320003919/http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/democracy/1995_hrp_report/95hrp_report_sasia/SriLanka.html . 2005-03-20 .
  62. Xinhua, 147 Muslims Massacred by Tamil "Tigers" in Sri Lanka, Colombo, August 3, 1990
  63. News: Ahamath . Anosh . 'Give Arms or Cyanide': Muslims beg for protection after massacre in Sri Lanka . 23 February 2021 . The Vancouver Sun . 14 August 1990.
  64. News: Rebels Reported to Kill 119 in Sri Lanka . 9 February 2021 . Associated Press . The New York Times. 13 August 1990.
  65. USA Today: Fighter jets pound suspected rebel camp after suicide bombing kills 95 sailors, October 17, 2006