Colombo, April 23: A high alert has been sounded at police stations in Colombo, after the intelligence received inputs of an unidentified truck and van moving in the city carrying explosives. A search operation has been launched across the Sri Lankan capital to locate the explosive-laden vehicle at the earliest.

A warning issued by the Director of Security at the Colombo Harbour said intelligence had found information that an unidentified container truck and a van carrying a potential explosive device was heading towards Colombo. Sri Lanka Bombings: ISIS Claims Responsibility of Terror Attack That Left Over 300 Dead.

The alert came as the island nation observed a day of national mourning for over 320 people killed in a series on blasts on Easter Sunday.

The terror attacks ravaged three Lankan cities - Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa - where alleged members of a jihadi outfit staged fidayeen attacks at churches and luxury hotels.

The preliminary probe so far has revealed the involvement of "international elements". The country's intelligence has also received credible inputs indicating the role of a local militant group - the National Thowheed Jama'at (NTJ).

The transnational extremist group, Islamic State (ISIS) on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the attack via its official news agency - Al Amaq. The group claimed its affiliated mujahideens staged the attack across Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Defence Minister of Lanka, citing the investigation conducted so far, said the jihadi bombers targeted the churches to avenge the far-right terror strike at a mosque in New Zealand's Christchurch last month which left over 50 dead.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 23, 2019 05:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).