Death toll rises to 311 in Sri Lanka bombings

10:25 • 23.04.19
Event

The death toll in a string of Easter bombings at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka rose to 311, The Washington Post reported, citing the state minister for defense.

Serious questions now have arisen on why the government and security forces were unable to foil the coordinated bombings despite apparently having prior knowledge, including of the group — the National Thowheed Jamaath — that has been identified as responsible, The Washington Post reports.By Tuesday morning, 40 people had been arrested, including three being held by the Terrorism Investigation Deparment, said police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara.

The United States pledged support for the investigation, dispatching FBI agents to help. At least four US citizens are among the dead, and “several” Americans were seriously injured, the State Department said Monday. Sri Lankan Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said 39 foreigners were killed and 28 wounded.

Investigators will be looking into how the local Islamist group, whose name roughly translates to National Monotheism Organization, was able to carry out such a planned, coordinated and deadly attack, and whether they had overseas help. 

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the group used suicide bombers at three churches and three hotels. He added that a foreign network was probably involved.“We do not believe these attacks were carried out by a group of people who were confined to this country,” Senaratne said. “There was an international network without which these attacks could not have succeeded.”

He called for the police inspector general, Pujith Jayasundara, to resign because security agencies had received a report warning of attacks by this group on churches and hotels weeks earlier.

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