Islamic State group claims Sri Lanka suicide bombings

Islamic State group claims Sri Lanka suicide bombings
This still image taken from Sri Lankan closed-circuit TV on April 21, 2019, a suspected bomber (L framed by door)) with backpack before he enters St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, Sri Lanka.
PHOTO: AFP

The Islamic State group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a devastating series of suicide attacks against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed more than 320 people.

The claim, accompanied by a photo and video of the men the group said had unleashed the carnage, emerged more than two days after the near-simultaneous blasts ripped through three high-end hotels popular with foreigners and three churches packed with Christians celebrating Easter.

Sri Lanka's government had said initial investigations suggested the attack had been carried out as "retaliation" for shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last month that killed 50 people.

Authorities in Colombo had already pointed the finger at a little-known local Islamic extremist group called National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), but said they were investigating whether they had international support.

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

The group later gave the noms de guerre of seven people it said were behind the "blessed attack" that targeted Christians during their "blasphemous holiday".

Amaq also released a photo of eight men it said were behind the blasts. Seven of them had their faces covered and three of them held knives.

The authenticity of the image and video could not be independently verified, and the reason for the discrepancy in the reported number of attackers was not immediately clear.

BROTHERS INVOLVED?

Sri Lankan police sources told AFP that two Muslim brothers, sons of a wealthy Colombo spice trader, blew themselves up at the Shangri-La and the Cinnamon Grand hotels.

The Kingsbury hotel in the capital was the last one hit.

A fourth attack against a hotel on Sunday failed, sources also told AFP, though it was not immediately clear if the bomber's explosives had malfunctioned or he had chosen not to detonate them.

He later blew himself up when police tracked him to a lodging in the capital.

Police have detained at least 40 people as they investigate the worst act of violence in the South Asian island nation since a civil war ended a decade ago.

But Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said police were hunting for more suspects at large, including some armed with explosives, and that further attacks were possible.

"We are trying to apprehend them," he said.

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.

'HARD TO BEAR'

The country observed a national day of mourning Tuesday, beginning with a three-minute silence, as the bereaved began to bury their dead.

Flags were lowered to half-mast on government buildings, and liquor shops were ordered closed for the day.

More than 1,000 people gathered at St Sebastian's Church in Negombo, north of the capital, which was among those devastated in the blasts, to pay tribute to the dead.

An elderly man wept uncontrollably by the coffin bearing the body of his wife, while relatives of other victims stood aghast and silent.

Coffins were carried into the church grounds one by one for services, and then to a newly-established cemetery on church land.

"It's very hard to bear," said Father Suranga Warnakulasuriya, who had come from another parish to help conduct funerals.

The attacks were the worst ever against the country's small Christian minority, who make up just seven per cent of the 21 million population.

Officials are investigating why more precautions were not taken after an April 11 warning from Sri Lanka's police that a "foreign intelligence agency" had reported the NTJ was planning suicide attacks on churches.

Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said the warning was not passed on to Wickremesinghe or other top ministers.

CNN reported that Indian intelligence services had passed on "unusually specific" information in the weeks before the attacks, and that at least some of it came from an IS suspect in their custody.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also defence and law and order minister, said he will carry out a complete reorganisation of the security forces and the police in the wake of the attacks.

"I hope to make major changes in the leadership of the security forces in the next 24 hours," Sirisena said in a nationwide address.

IDENTIFYING THE DEAD

Work was continuing to identify foreign victims in the blasts.

A Danish billionaire lost three of his children in the attacks, a spokesman for his company said.

Eight Britons, 10 Indians, four Americans and nationals from Turkey, Australia, Japan and Portugal, were also reported killed.

The United Nations said at least 45 children, Sri Lankans and foreigners, were among those who lost their lives.

Of the three churches targeted, two are in the Colombo region and one is in the eastern city of Batticaloa.

Ethnic and religious violence has plagued Sri Lanka for decades. A 37-year conflict with Tamil rebels was followed by a more recent upswing in clashes between the Buddhist majority and Muslims.

The attacks have sparked local and international outrage, and have been condemned by Sri Lankan Muslim groups.

homepage

trending

trending
    Knife attack at Kallang Wave Mall: Man to be charged with attempted murder of woman
    Toto snowballs to $10m after 4 draws with no winner
    Little red dot, big bold ideas: 60 Singapore innovations shaping our future
    Texas flood death toll rises to 131 as new storms loom
    Gaza documentary shown on BBC breached accuracy guideline, review finds
    'They downplayed the whole situation': Mum blames Ang Mo Kio pre-school after daughter's fall leads to surgery
    Cyclist run over twice by car in Hougang, miraculously walks away
    China mum jailed for selling 2 sons for over $14k to tip livestreamers, buy clothes
    'Very unfair to me': Locksmith files police report over harassment after viral claim he yelled at elderly person
    Fatal crash at Geylang pasar malam: Driver, passenger arrested
    18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat
    This private chef served 9-course Malay fine dining from his HDB flat - and it blew me away

Singapore

Singapore
    • 'Can we have a date?' DPM Gan Kim Yong invites Punggol North residents to dinner
    • 4 women arrested in Yishun for allegedly offering sexual services disguised as massages
    • Heartbroken dad dies hours after teen son is killed in motorcycle accident
    • Geylang petrol station employee, 77, dies after being hit by reversing car
    • Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN
    • I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons
    • Missing registration plates, non-working brakes: LTA impounds 151 active mobility devices in last 2 months
    • Car overturns in Joo Koon collision; 2 taken to hospital
    • Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term
    • OCBC Group CEO Helen Wong to retire end-2025, Tan Teck Long appointed successor

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • 'Wow, who is this girl?' Pierre Png and Cynthia Koh recall first time they met at water park as teens
    • 'I was so excited I wanted to cry': Fans spend up to $50k in auction to experience a day with Jackson Wang
    • Who doesn't forget easily and who doesn't gossip? Hong Huifang, Cynthia Koh and Pierre Png, cast of new Singapore-Thai thriller, talk people politics
    • Ex-NCT member Taeil sentenced to 3.5 years of jail for sexual assault
    • Richard Gadd reveals why an entire episode of Baby Reindeer was dropped
    • Jennifer Aniston reportedly dating hypnotist
    • Bella Thorne accuses Charlie Puth of lying 'to the entire world' after she refused to sleep with him

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Kaya toast, extra cute please: Breakfast-themed plushies with a local twist at Marina Square pop-up
    • Singapore coffee brand Alchemist debuts 2 outlets in Japan, marking first overseas venture
    • Now you can get Springleaf prata in a cup - with curry - from a vending machine
    • Orh Gao Taproom, popular bar by night and kopitiam by day in Serene Centre, to shutter
    • I thought childbirth was painful. Then I caught my baby's hand, foot and mouth disease
    • How a mother's warmth shapes a child's mental health, according to science
    • A first-time condo buyer's guide to evaluating property developers in Singapore
    • Things to do in Nagoya: A food lover's guide to Japan's underrated metropolis
    • Where $4m semi-Ds sit next to $40m GCBs: Touring First Avenue in Bukit Timah
    • Best buffet dining promotions in Singapore: Carousel, Colony, Edge, Peppermint, The Line buffet prices (July 2025)

Digicult

Digicult
    • Slim, sleek, but slightly too short-lived: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • 'Give a positive review': Hidden AI prompt found in academic paper by NUS researchers
    • 'Report 1 shop, another 10 appear': Hoyo Fest artists on copyright struggles
    • NTU penalises 3 students over use of AI tools; they dispute university's findings
    • Australia social media teen ban software trial organisers say the tech works
    • Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
    • Initiative by IMDA, AI Verify Foundation tests AI accuracy, trustworthiness in real-world scenarios
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool

Money

Money
    • Best credit card promotions in Singapore (June 2025): Citibank, DBS, HSBC, UOB and more
    • Best bank offers in Singapore (July 2025): 50% cashback on public transit with Amex, win Business Class flights with HSBC and more
    • 9 best personal loans in Singapore with lowest interest rates (July 2025)
    • Best fixed deposit rates in Singapore (July 2025): Minimum deposits from $500, rates up to 2.45%
    • Temasek sees $45b rise in net portfolio value to record high of $434b amid global uncertainties
    • 'It's our grandfather's company, we won't sell', says Wong family as shareholders reject GE delisting bid
    • Japan, South Korea hit with 25% tariffs as Trump ramps up trade war in letters to leaders
    • Trump says alignment with BRICS' 'anti-American policies' to invite additional 10% tariffs
    • Regulators warned Air India Express about delay on Airbus engine fix, forging records
    • Higher seller's stamp duty a 'light touch' to curb property flipping: Experts

Latest

Latest
  • Egypt says Israel-EU agreement has not increased aid to Gaza
  • China steps in as US pulls back from diplomacy, report says
  • Suspended Thai PM Paetongtarn hit by ethics investigation, source and media say
  • Zelenskiy thanks Trump for readiness to support Ukraine
  • Heatwaves in Spain caused 1,180 deaths in past 2 months, ministry says
  • Israeli ultra-Orthodox party leaves government over conscription bill
  • EU sees some good signs on Gaza aid but more needed, says EU foreign policy chief
  • Astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary depart space station for return flight
  • Spain arrests 10 after far-right groups and migrants clash

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Malaysian man strikes $4m lottery after betting on his, girlfriend's IC numbers for 3 years
  • Singaporean who defaulted on NS obligations used fake Malaysian passports at checkpoints over 800 times
  • JB mum forgets baby in car during shopping trip; cops, locksmith rescue infant
  • Lurid tale of China's cross-dressing 'red uncle' goes viral online
  • Climbers battle torrential waters after flash floods hit Mount Kinabalu; all 155 persons safe, says park
  • Jail for ex-auxiliary police officer who loaded 1 bullet and accidentally discharged revolver
  • Woman injured on SMRT bus after bottle thrown at vehicle shatters window
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.