Two people, who had pledged to National Thowheed Jama’at (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim to operate as suicide bombers, were arrested in a joint raid conducted by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) and the Army yesterday, Police said today.

Zahran masterminded the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks targeting three churches and three high-end hotels in Colombo.

Initial investigations had revealed that these two suspects had received weapons training had maintained close links with Zahran Hashim and influenced by his extremist sermons

They are being detained by the TID for further questioning. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and Sheain Fernandopulle)