MTV/MBC attacked by armed gang........

MTV/MBC attacked by armed gang.

Extensive damage to the studio complex

SRI LANKA- A private radio and television station on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital has been attacked by an armed gang that inflicted extensive damage to the studio complex and interrupted its broadcasts, a spokesman for the station said Tuesday.

A gang of 15 to 20 men stormed the Maharaja TV and Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation at Pannipitiya, 20 kilometres south-east of the Colombo, holding the staff at gunpoint and assaulting some of them before causing the damage early Tuesday, the spokesman said. 'The attackers opened fire inside the building, lobbed grenades and went on the rampage, damaging office furniture, equipment and the mobile vehicle used for outdoor broadcasts in an attack that lasted 45 minutes,' the spokesman said.TV and radio programmes have been interrupted at the station, but management said they were making temporary arrangements to resume broadcast services.

More-

MTV/MBC under seige

The MTV/MBC transmission station in Pannipitiya has come under attack, and the network is comepletely off air. Unconfirmed sources say that an unidentified group has stormed the building. dailymirror


MTV/MBC under seige -

Officials from MTV/MBC say armed gang of about 20 entered the premises of the transmission station in Pannipitiya, and held staff and security personnel at gunpoint before setting the main control room on fire. A hand grenade was used inside the Main Control Room, and the Bomb Disposal Unit have recovered another unexploded grenade from the location. dailymirror