Sri Lanka Blasts: 7 Suicide Bombers Behind Easter Sunday Terror Attack Linked to Local Jihadist Group, Says Top Official
Health Minister and the government spokesman, Rajitha Senaratne, also said that all suicide bombers involved in the blasts are believed to be Sri Lankan nationals.
Colombo, April 22: A top Sri Lankan official has confirmed the involvement of a local jihadist group in the terror attack which ravaged Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa on Easter Sunday. The seven suicide bombers, who carried out the attack, are linked to the National Thowheed Movement (NTM) -- an outfit which was accused behind the Buddha statue dereliction incidents last year.
Health Minister and the government spokesman, Rajitha Senaratne, also said that all suicide bombers involved in the blasts are believed to be Sri Lankan nationals. He further told reporters that the death toll has mounted to 290, whereas, upto 500 others have been left injured. Why Sri Lanka Does Not Trust Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Other Social Media Platforms.
Speaking at a press conference here, the Minister said that the Chief of National Intelligence had warned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) regarding the probable attacks before April 11.
"On April 4, international intelligence agencies had warned of these attacks. The IGP was informed on April 9," Senaratne said. He said that the local outfit identified as the National Tawheed Jamath - a radical Muslim group - is suspected of plotting the deadly explosions.
"There may be international links to them," he added. Senaratne sought resignation of police chief Pujith Jayasundera in view of the major security lapse.
Rauff Hakeem, a government minister and the leader of the main Muslim party - Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, said that it was lamentable that no preventive action had been taken despite the inputs.
"They have known this..., the names have been given, identified, but (they) took no action," he added.
Two Sri Lankan Muslim groups - the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama and the National Shoora Council - have condemned the blasts and offered condolences to the Christian community.
They have urged that all culprits be brought to book. Seven suicide bombers were involved in eight blasts that targeted St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in Negombo and Zeon Church in Batticaloa when the Easter Sunday mass were in progress.
The explosions also struck three five-star hotels in Colombo - the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury. No group has claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks, but police have so far arrested 24 people.
(With PTI inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2019 04:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).