India warned Sri Lanka thrice before Sunday Easter bombings, including an hour before the attack: Report The first warning was communicated on April 4, the second on April 20 and third on the morning of the attack. DNA Web Team

Apr 24, 2019, 03:43 PM IST India warned Sri Lanka about a possible terror attacks thrice ahead of the Easterr Sunday Bombings. The final warning, reported CNN, was given one hour before the explosions started, a person told the channel. The first warning was communicated on April 4, the second on April 20 and third on the morning of the attack. The warning had specified that the targets would include churches or hotels, the person told CNN. Sri Lankan officials have also admitted that the received intelligence, but both the PM and President said they weren’t privy to any such intel. Out of close to 40 foreign nationals, at least 10 Indians were also killed in the terror attack which shook the country on Sunday. The investigating agencies earlier in the day have held a Syrian national in connection with the terror attack and now terror group ISIS has claimed the responsibility. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has also confirmed that IS terrorists have also planned to target the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Speaking to an English news channel, he said that India has shared intelligence but there have been some lapses.

1. Islamic State claim responsibility

1/4 The Islamic State Tuesday claimed responsibility for the devastating Easter blasts in Sri Lanka and identified the seven suicide bombers who were involved in the attacks that killed 321 people and wounded more than 500 others.

In a statement issued through its propaganda 'Amaq' news agency, the ISIS said that "the executors of the attack that targeted citizens of coalition states and Christians in Sri Lanka two days ago were with the group," according to the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activities. The statement identified the attackers as Abu Ubayda, Abu al-Mukhtar, Abu Khalil, Abu Hamza, Abu al-Bara'a, Abu Muhammad and Abu Abdullah, and their respective targets. It said Abu Hamza detonated his vest in the St Anthony's Church in Colombo, Abu Khalil blew himself up in the St Sebastian's Church in Negombo and Abu Muhammad in the Zion Church. The rest of the attackers targeted hotels. The statement also claimed that around 1,000 people were killed or wounded in the multiple attacks - believed to be the most deadly strike carried out by the Middle Eastern group outside Iraq and Syria. The ISIS also issued a group photo of the attackers, showing 8 attackers while its official claim mentioned 7. The faces of seven attackers in the photo are covered while the eighth one, who is believed to be the ring leader, is without a mask. "The detail given in #ISIS' communique (attackers' names, where each of them attacked) shows that the group had a hand in the attack - the degree to which still remains to be seen. The group's delay in claiming is also an unanswered variable," SITE Intelligence Group Director Rita Katz tweeted.



2. Death toll rises

2/4 The death toll in Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday bomb attacks has risen to 359, police said on Wednesday amidst nationwide search operations to nab the perpetrators of the country's worst terror attack.

Several people were arrested in connection with the attacks on Tuesday, Police spokesman Ruwan Guansekera said. "The number of death now is 359," Guansekera said. The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the devastating Easter blasts in Sri Lanka and identified the suicide bombers who were involved in the attacks. Seven suicide bombers carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, in the country's worst terror attack. Gunasekera said that the search operations were carried out during Tuesday night's curfew hours in different parts of the country. Police arrested scores of people with their suspected links to the National Thowheeth Jamath, the group which officials beleive carried out the bombings.



3. 10 people arrested

3/4 Over 10 people have been arrested from the Muslim minority concentrated areas of Aluthgama and Beruwela, south of Colombo, police said. Further six were arrested at Katuwapitiya in the western coastal area where the bombed St Sebastian's Church is located. Giving information on the suicide bombers, the police said that the attacks at the Cinnamon Grand and Shangri La Hotels had been carried out by two brothers. The Cinnamon Grand Hotel bomber had booked himself into the hotel on the previous night. CCTV footages have shown his breakfast table where he was seen consuming pieces of fruit and taking a walk around the restaurant before exploding himself. Their younger brother has also been nabbed by the police. The house search had led to the discovery of extremist literature, a computer hard disk and SIM cards, thought to have been used to coordinate the blasts. The police has already arrested the accomplices of the bomber of the lodging house near the National Zoo at the Colombo suburb of Dehiwela. The tuk tuk taxi driver who had taken him to the lodge was also arrested, the police said.



4. Security stepped up