ISIS Claims Responsibility for Sri Lanka Attacks
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 300 people at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.
It is believed that ISIS has executed the ghastly attack in collaboration with another terror group to avenge the killing of 50 people last month at Muslim mosques in New Zealand.
The Islamic State (IS) revealed its involvement in the Sri Lanka bombings through its Amaq News Agency, which has published an article along with a photo of the attackers.
The Arabic report, published Tuesday (April 23, 2019), is headlined “Martyrdom-Seeking Attacks by Islamic State Fighters Shake Sri Lanka.”
The report states that several cities in Sri Lanka witnessed two days ago martyrdom-seeking attacks and blasts from explosive devices, carried out by Islamic State (IS) fighters during a Christian holiday.
A security source explained to Amaq Agency that the attacks primarily targeted Christian churches and hotels in which foreigners were present, and involved 7 martyrdom-seeking attacks and several explosive devices.
According to Amaq, the source noted that 4 attacks hit the capital, Colombo, where a church and 3 hotels were targeted, while two attacks struck two churches in the cities of Negombo and Batticaloa, and in Dematagoda, and an Islamic State fighter clashed with officers and policemen.
The source confirmed the fall of nearly 350 killed among Christians, including 39 foreigners of various nationalities, and 3 police officers, in addition to the wounding of more than 600 others.
Meanwhile, the F.B.I. has joined the investigation as it is said that the Sri Lanka government failed to act on warnings that terrorists were planning to attack churches.
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State (IS) is a militant organization.
