7 of its fidyeen carried out Easter blasts, 87 bomb detonators found at bus station
The Sri Lankan Government on Monday accused a previously little-known Islamist outfit called the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) of having carried out the Easter Sunday attacks, and said an international terror group might have been behind the atrocities, the worst in the country’s history.
However, neither the NTJ, nor any other group, has admitted carrying out the wave of bombings which tore through the island nation, killing 290 people and injuring nearly 500 others.
Seven suicide bombers of the NTJ carried out a series of devastating blasts, authorities said on Monday. As many as 87 bomb detonators were found on Monday at a bus station in Colombo, police said.
Police have so far arrested 24 people — mostly members of NTJ — in connection with the blasts that also killed eight Indian nationals.
Police said that 9 out of the 24 arrested for involvement in the blasts were ordered to be remanded by the Colombo magistrate’s court till May 6.
Government’s spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said NTJ is suspected of plotting the blasts that struck three churches when the Easter Sunday mass were in progress and three five-star hotels.
“All suicide bombers involved in the blasts are believed to be Sri Lankan nationals,” said Senaratne, who is also the Health Minister.
Speaking at a press conference here, Senaratne said the Government was investigating whether the group had “international support”. “There may be international links to them,” he added.
The “conditional state of emergency” in force since Monday midnight would target terrorism and would not limit freedom of expression, said a statement from the President’s media unit. “These will be limited to counter terrorism regulations. This is being done to allow the police and the three forces to ensure public security.”
The Government has also declared Tuesday as a national day of mourning.
Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said that 24 arrested suspects have been transferred into the custody of the Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations. President Sirisena has appointed a three-member committee to conduct investigations. The committee will submit its report to him within two weeks.
Health Minister Senaratne said 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,” he said.
He demanded resignation of police chief Pujith Jayasundera in view of the major security lapse.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that an investigation must be launched as to why intelligence reports of the attack was not taken seriously. 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 (authorities) have known this (group) for six months, 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 demanded that all culprits be brought to book.
Meanwhile, as many as 87 bomb detonators were found on Monday at the Central Colombo bus station in Pettah area. The police initially found 12 bomb detonators scattered on the ground. A further search revealed 75 more, a police statement said.
Also, an explosion took place on Monday when an explosive device in a parked van was being defused by the STF bomb disposal squad near the St Anthony’s Church where one of the attacks happened on Sunday. However, there was no casualty.
