Nearly 300 arrested in connection with Sri Lanka Easter Sunday bomb attacks

(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lanka Police Media spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara Thursday said nearly 300 persons have been arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks by the Islamist extremists that killed 258 people.

Out of the 293 persons arrested in connection with the April 21 attacks, 115 suspects have been remanded after investigations were completed, the Police Spokesman said at a media briefing yesterday.

The other 178 suspects are being detained and questioned on detection orders, he added.

Statements have been recorded from 81 persons injured in the bombing of St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade. Statements from another seven could not be recorded due to errors in the addresses given to the police.

Those who have not been able to give statements to the police can provide information to the CID Special Investigation Unit by phone to the telephone number 011-2392900.

Nine suicide bombers carried out a series of suicide attacks on three churches and as many high-end hotels, killing 258 people including 47 foreign nationals.

The Islamic State claimed the attacks, but the government has blamed local Islamist extremist group National Thowheed Jammath (NTJ) for the bombings.

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