The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Tuesday for the Easter Sunday bombings at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed more than 300 people. The group’s Amaq news agency made the claim.
A government official said the bombings were retaliation for the killing of 50 people last month at mosques in New Zealand, but he did not offer any evidence for the claim. He said they were carried out by two Islamist extremist groups.
The first funerals were held at a damaged church in western Sri Lanka, where as many as 100 parishioners were killed by a suicide bomber. The coffins, many bearing the remains of children, were interred as the police raised the death toll from the coordinated attacks to 321.
The number of suspects arrested in connection with the attacks increased to 40 from 24 as the government declared “emergency law,” giving the police sweeping powers to detain and interrogate suspects without obtaining warrants.
Courtesy: The New York Times
