COLOMBO, Sept 29: An attempt by the Tamil Tiger rebels to bomb a Muslim school in the eastern Trincomalee district was thwarted, the military said on Friday.

“An intended bloodbath among Muslim students was prevented at the eleventh hour by the troops following information given by civilians,” a statement by the military said.

The explosives had been found concealed in the ceiling of a classroom of the Zahira Muslim College, the statement said.

Sources said hundreds of students were evacuated from the school premises as precautionary measures while the army bomb disposal squad commenced a thorough search into the school compound.

Extensive searches led troops to recover six hand grenades, one detonator, ammunition and a detonator box from the ceiling of the school, military sources said.—Correspondent