Sri Lanka: Daesh Claims Easter Sunday Bombings

By Staff, Agencies

The Wahhabi Daesh [Arabic acronym for “ISIS” / “ISIL”] group claimed responsibility for the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka that killed at least 321 people, but offered no evidence.

The extremist group made the claim Tuesday via its Aamaq news agency.

The claim said: “The perpetrators of the attack that targeted nationals of the countries of the coalitions and Christians in Sri Lanka before yesterday are fighters from ISIS.”

It offered no photographs or videos of attackers pledging their loyalty to the group.

The group has made a series of unsupported claims of responsibility.

However, Sri Lankan officials have blamed a local extremist group for the attack.

Earlier, Sri Lanka’s minister of defense said the Easter Sunday bombings were “carried out in retaliation” for attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15.

Ruwan Wijewardene made the comment to lawmakers in Parliament on Tuesday, without providing evidence or explaining where the information came from.

He said the toll from coordinated bombings at churches, luxury hotels and other sites now stands at 321 people dead and 500 injured.

Authorities in Sri Lanka are further increasing security measures after incident.

Police issued orders Tuesday that anyone parking a car on the street and leaving unattended must put a note with their phone number on the windscreen.

Postal officials meanwhile said they would no longer accept pre-wrapped parcels for mailing.

The country is under a state of emergency and the military is operating under enhanced war-time powers following the attacks, which also wounded hundreds.