#SriLankaBlasts: 11 more held, total number of arrests now 24
(PTI desk)
Sri Lankan authorities arrested 11 more people, all reportedly members of a Muslim radical group, today taking the total number of arrests to 24, as multiple blasts rocked the island nation on Easter Sunday that killed over 290. A string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, struck churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka, killing several people, including six Indians.
Suspects transferred into custody of CID for further investigations: Police
The suspects have been transferred into the custody of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations, Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera was quoted as saying by the local TV. The blasts shatter a decade of peace since the end of civil war with the LTTE.
Will not disclose details of the suspects, said the government
However, the government said they will not disclose the details of the suspects involved in the attacks to prevent them from getting publicity. "Don't give extremists a voice. Don't help to make them martyrs," State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, told reporters when asked for details of those in custody. Meanwhile, police officials privately said the suspects were all from the minority Muslim community.
Safe house where bombers lived for three months also discovered
Police said the van which had carried explosives to carry out bomb attacks at the three hotels was arrested with its Muslim driver. A safe house, where the bombers had lived for nearly three months till attacks, were discovered in Panadura, 27km south of Colombo.
SL Air Force removed six-foot pipe bomb at Colombo airport
Sri Lanka Air Force said it found an improvised explosives device along a road leading to the departure terminal at the Colombo international airport yesterday night. "It was a crude six-foot pipe bomb that was found by the roadside," an air force spokesman said. "We have removed it and safely defused it at an air force location," he further said.
Police officer had alerted security-officials about threat 10 days ago
No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts but a police officer had 10 days ago informed the security officials about a possible threat to churches from a radical Islamist group, National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ). It was reported that the NTJ is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches in Colombo. The NJT is "a radical Muslim group in Sri Lanka".
