Scots caught in Sri Lankan terror

18 people are thought to have died in the attack

A newly wed Scottish couple have been describing how they fled gunfire and explosions during an attack on Sri Lanka's international airport.

Scott and Leigh-Anne Murray, from Elgin, were among a group of British tourists caught up in an armed assault by Tamil Tiger rebels.

The couple had landed in Sri Lanka on the way home from their honeymoon when the attack happened.

Speaking from a hotel in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, Mr Murray said he and his wife were with a group of tourists ordered out of Bandaranaike airport amid scenes of choas.

Then the gunfire was getting a bit closer, coming over our heads and hitting the wall behind us.

Scott Murray

Mr Murray: "Basically we were in the Duty Free looking for something to eat and there was a bit of a commotion near the window because people could see what was starting to happen down on the runways.

"The guy from the Duty Free just said we had to get out.

"When we came out of there were were directed down, outside of the airport. It wasn't until we got to the front door that we could hear explosions and machine gun fire.

"We were told at the front door that, basically, we had to get out.

"We had no idea where we were supposed to go. Most of the Sri Lankans disappeared and there was just about 30 British people that were left to fend for ourselves.

Broke through fence

"We had to make a dash for it. We got stuck behind a fence, which we had to pull down, and made a run for it. Then the gunfire was getting a bit closer, coming over our heads and hitting the wall behind us."

Mr Murray said they had to seek shelter behind a toilet block as bullets flew overhead.

He said: "We stayed there for about three quarters of an hour. It sounded as though it was getting closer and closer.

"Then a guy from Sri Lankan airlines just happened to be walking by, trying to get out himself and he took it upon himself to show us how to get out of there.

The couple were married two weeks ago

"We all had to just basically get up and make a run for it."

Mr Murray said that, although it was a scary situation, none of the group of British tourists panicked at all.

He added that Sri Lankan airlines have put them up in the hotel while they try to establish how to get them home.

Mrs Murray said: "Pretty scary stuff. I think probably shock helped us get through it a bit. I think now, looking back on it, you realise how scary it was."

She added that the British High Commission had told them that the airport would be open again within 24 hours.

At least 18 people were killed in the attack and 13 civilian and military aircraft damaged.

A spokesman for the British High Commission said none of the Britons caught up in the attack were known to have been injured.

Britons anxious about relatives who may have been caught up in the airport raid can ring the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's consular protection unit on 0207 270 1500.