Authorities lock down central bank, road leading to Colombo airport; death toll of Easter Sunday bombings climbs to at least 359
Sri Lankan soldiers perform security checks on motorists at a road in Colombo, on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Sri Lanka banned drones and unmanned aircraft and set off more controlled detonations of suspicious items Thursday four days after suicide bombing attacks killed more than 350 people in and around the capital of Colombo.
With fears of more bombers ready to strike, police said they had asked people to leave offices early in Colombo’s business district to avoid throngs at rush hour. City-centre restaurants were also shutting early. One of those detained overnight was linked to a terrorist organization, police said, but gave no details. Another was taken into custody after “hate speech” was discovered on their Facebook page.“It was related to the spreading and preaching of terrorism,” a police spokesman said.
A picture has emerged of a group of nine well-educated, homegrown Islamist suicide bombers, including a woman, who carried out the attacks in the South Asian nation. The man whose face could be seen in the video has been identified as Mohamed Zahran, a preacher from the east of Sri Lanka known for his militant views and Facebook posts who officials believe was the mastermind of the attack.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Panic mode': Witness describes aftermath of Sri Lanka bombsOver the course of the day, eight bombs exploded at churches and luxury hotels, killing more than 200 people
Read more »
Canadians in Sri Lanka told to exercise extreme caution after series of bombingsGlobal Affairs Canada says in a travel advisory posted to its website that the situation in Sri Lanka remains volatile, with the risk of further attacks throughout the country
Read more »
Warnings about Islamic extremists targeting Christians on Easter Sunday went unheeded, says Sri Lanka health ministerThe bombings, Sri Lanka’s deadliest violence since a devastating civil war ended a decade ago on the island nation, killed at least 290 people with more than 500 wounded, Police spokesman Ruw…
Read more »
Sri Lanka bomb attacks were revenge for New Zealand mosque killings, minister saysThe toll rose to 321 dead with about 500 people wounded
Read more »
Canadian in Sri Lanka tells of shock at bomb attacks which kill more than 200Canadian residents in Sri Lanka are shocked at a series of Easter Sunday bomb attacks that have killed more than 200 people.
Read more »
Sri Lanka bombing victims were from at least 12 countriesAuthorities say at least 31 foreigners died in the attacks.
Read more »
Explosions hit 2 churches in Sri Lanka on Easter SundayCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Two explosions hit two churches in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, wounding at least 50 people, witnesses said.The first blast ripped through St. Anthony’s Shrine in Co…
Read more »
Photos: Hundreds dead in Sri Lanka bombingsEaster Sunday bombings that ripped through churches and luxury hotels killed more than 200 people.
Read more »