Iraq News

ISIS claims Sri Lanka attacks that killed hundreds

The "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) on Tuesday (April 23rd) claimed a series of bombings that killed more than 320 people in Sri Lanka, after the government blamed local extremists for the blasts, AFP reported.

The claim emerged more than 48 hours after the near-simultaneous blasts tore through three high-end hotels popular with foreigners and three churches packed with Christians marking Easter.

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday blamed the Islamist National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) group for the blasts, saying they were carried out in retaliation for last month's attacks on two mosques in New Zealand.

The presidency said there was intelligence that "international terror groups" were backing Sri Lankan extremists.

"Those that carried out the attack that targeted members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday are [ISIS] group fighters," said a statement released by ISIS propaganda agency Amaq.

It presented no immediate evidence for the claim. In a subsequent longer official statement, the group gave aliases but not the full names of seven attackers it said were involved.

Police sources told AFP Tuesday that two Muslim brothers -- sons of a wealthy Colombo spice trader -- were among the perpetrators of the attacks.

They blew themselves up as guests queued for breakfast at the Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand hotels in the capital, the source said.

The pair were key members of the NTJ, which the government has previously blamed for defacing Buddhist statues, according to an investigation officer.

Police have detained at least 40 people, but Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said more were at large, including "some" armed with explosives, and that further attacks were possible.

The government has imposed a state of emergency, giving police and the military special powers including the ability to arrest suspects without a court order.

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