The timely detection of a bomb with its detonator by an Army Sergeant in a Kurunegala bound bus saved the lives of nearly 100 passengers, including Army personnel yesterday evening, Army sources said.

The passenger bus started from Maharagama had just passed the Army cantonment in Panagoda when an Army Sergeant in the bus saw a well-dressed person suddenly moving suspiciously towards the rear of the bus carrying a brand new brief case. He suddenly grabbed the person and when he tried to remove it from the hands of suspect, parts of a detonator came out, sources said.

Other passengers supported servicemen to capture the suspect and handed him over to Padukka Police station with the bomb and its detonator, sources said.