The suspect accused of carrying out a grenade attack that killed two children in Dehiwala has told police that the wrong house was targeted because the intended house and the house attacked were separated by a single wall, police said.
The suspect and the alleged driver of the three-wheeler used in the attack have been detained and are being questioned by the Western Province South Crime Division.
The grenade was thrown at a house on Sirisangabo Mawatha, Dehiwala, in the early hours of Sept. 11, killing two children aged 11 and 17 and seriously injuring their father.
Police said the father’s leg had to be amputated following the attack.
During questioning, the suspect who allegedly carried out the attack reportedly told police that he had acted on the instructions of a relative known as “Kos Malli” and another person identified as “Avishka” from Bodiya Watta.
Investigators have also uncovered that the three-wheeler used in the attack had been taken to a garage to have its colour changed. A man suspected of handing over the vehicle to the garage and the garage owner were subsequently arrested.
Police said the two had revealed that a man arrived at the garage at around 9 p.m. on Sept. 10 and took the three-wheeler away.
The man was identified as Hiruthma Shashmika, alias “Hiru Malli,” of Saranankara Road, Kalubowila. Police said he had left with Madushka Renuka Fernando, alias “Madu,” who is suspected of carrying out the grenade attack.
Investigations have further revealed that Madu had allegedly acted as the gunman in the Aug. 1 killing of a man identified as Jathunga Priyantha on Kandawala Road in Ratmalana.
The two main suspects are due to be presented for an identification parade, police said. (Newswire)