Easter brings back horiffic memories for Sri Lanka but archbishop forgives the enemies. On the Easter Sunday last year SL church became the target of bombers which took lives of so many people.

Easter brings back horrific memories for Sri Lanka but archbishop forgives bombers

Three persons of ISIS module were arrested and remanded to judicial custody till June 28 on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported. An FIR into the matter has been registered.&nbsp;

As per reports, those arrested are suspected of planning an attack on public and intelligence officials as well as on public sites such as churches, temples, mosques and other religious places in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

This comes just a few days after three terror suspects arrested in connection with the Kerala-Tamil Nadu ISIS module case were <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-tamil-nadu-isis-module-3-terror-suspects-sent-to-judicial-custody-227435">sent to judicial custody on Saturday</a>.

Information was received that the three suspects were staunch supporters of ISIS and have been propagating the terror group's ideologies on social media, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

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Coimbatore: Three persons of ISIS module arrested and remanded to judicial custody till 28th June. FIR registered. They are suspected of planning an attack on public, intelligence officials, churches, temples, mosques, &amp; other religious places in Coimbatore
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They were also an active supporter of alleged Sri Lankan bombings mastermind Zahran Hashim.

In a search conducted at their residence, digital devices including cell phones, SIM cards computers, hard disks, bank account documents, pen drives, memory cards and certain other incriminating documents were recovered from their possession.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Three persons of ISIS module were arrested and remanded to judicial custody till June 28 on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported. An FIR into the matter has been registered.

Three persons of ISIS module were arrested and remanded to judicial custody till June 28 on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported. An FIR into the matter has been registered. As per reports, those arrested are suspected of planning an attack on public and intelligence officials as well as on public sites such as churches, temples, mosques and other religious places in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This comes just a few days after three terror suspects arrested in connection with the Kerala-Tamil Nadu ISIS module case were sent to judicial custody on Saturday. Information was received that the three suspects were staunch supporters of ISIS and have been propagating the terror group's ideologies on social media, news agency ANI reported. Coimbatore: Three persons of ISIS module arrested and remanded to judicial custody till 28th June. FIR registered. They are suspected of planning an attack on public, intelligence officials, churches, temples, mosques, & other religious places in Coimbatore — ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2019 × They were also an active supporter of alleged Sri Lankan bombings mastermind Zahran Hashim. In a search conducted at their residence, digital devices including cell phones, SIM cards computers, hard disks, bank account documents, pen drives, memory cards and certain other incriminating documents were recovered from their possession. (With inputs from agencies)

Tamil Nadu: 3 arrested in connection to ISIS module, remanded to judicial custody till June 28

Sri Lanka's $4.4 billion tourism industry is reeling from cancellations as travellers shun the Indian Ocean island, popular for its pristine beaches, after multiple suicide bombings that killed over 250 two weeks ago.

Sri Lanka resort town hit hard by tourism slowdown following attacks

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-governments-lifts-ban-on-social-media-platforms-214678">Sri Lankan</a> police on Tuesday announced that three suspects were arrested along with a van connected to the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-is-inspired-local-suicide-bombers-carried-out-strikes-in-sri-lanka-213502"> devastating Easter Sunday bombings</a> from the country's North Central Province.

The suspicious van was wanted over the terror attacks and was taken into custody at Sungavila in Polonnaruwa town, Ruwan Gunasekara, police spokesperson, said.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sri-lanka/global-terrorism-has-entered-sri-lanka-pm-wickremesinghe-tells-wion-214733">Global terrorism has entered Sri Lanka, PM Wickremesinghe tells WION</a>

They said the van which bears the licence plate 'EP PX 2399' was taken into custody along with the three suspects.

The van was parked in the garden of a home in the area and further investigations are being carried out.

Last week, Sri Lanka placed all police stations in Colombo on high alert as police were hunting for an unidentified container truck and a van, believed to be carrying explosives.

A warning was issued by the Director of Security at the Colombo Harbour said intelligence had found information that an unidentified container truck and a van carrying a potential explosive device was heading towards Colombo.

A total of 106 suspects, including a Tamil medium teacher and a school principal, have been arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday blasts.

Powerful blasts ripped through three churches and as many luxury hotels on Easter Sunday, killing 253 people and injuring more than 500 others.

The Islamic State claimed the attacks, but the government has blamed local Islamist extremist group National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) for the attacks.&nbsp;

The Sri Lankan police on Tuesday announced that three suspects were arrested along with a van connected to the devastating Easter Sunday bombings from the country's North Central Province.

The Sri Lankan police on Tuesday announced that three suspects were arrested along with a van connected to the devastating Easter Sunday bombings from the country's North Central Province. The suspicious van was wanted over the terror attacks and was taken into custody at Sungavila in Polonnaruwa town, Ruwan Gunasekara, police spokesperson, said. Also read: Global terrorism has entered Sri Lanka, PM Wickremesinghe tells WION They said the van which bears the licence plate 'EP PX 2399' was taken into custody along with the three suspects. The van was parked in the garden of a home in the area and further investigations are being carried out. Last week, Sri Lanka placed all police stations in Colombo on high alert as police were hunting for an unidentified container truck and a van, believed to be carrying explosives. A warning was issued by the Director of Security at the Colombo Harbour said intelligence had found information that an unidentified container truck and a van carrying a potential explosive device was heading towards Colombo. A total of 106 suspects, including a Tamil medium teacher and a school principal, have been arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday blasts. Powerful blasts ripped through three churches and as many luxury hotels on Easter Sunday, killing 253 people and injuring more than 500 others. The Islamic State claimed the attacks, but the government has blamed local Islamist extremist group National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) for the attacks.

Sri Lanka attacks: Three suspects arrested, van seized

An alleged follower of Sri Lankan <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/zahran-hashim-radical-islamist-linked-to-sri-lanka-blasts-213606">bombing mastermind Zahran Hashim </a>was set to appear before an Indian court Tuesday after admitting he wanted to carry out an attack in India, investigators said.

India has been concerned about Islamist extremists on its soil for some time and the April 21 Sri Lanka bombings that killed 253 people has left authorities alarmed that India might be at risk of a jihadist attack.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-plotters-planning-more-attacks-us-ambassador-teplitz-214704">Sri Lanka plotters planning more attacks: US ambassador Teplitz</a>

The Indian national, identified as Riyas A, alias Riyas Aboobacker, 29, was arrested on Monday by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), which handles counter-terrorism cases.

During interrogation, he "disclosed that he has been following speeches/videos of Zahran Hashim of Sri Lanka for more than a year", an NIA statement said.

"He admitted that he wanted to carry out a suicide attack in Kerala," a southern Indian state, it added.

Hashim was a Sri Lankan Muslim preacher who led the coordinated Easter Sunday suicide attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, in one of the world's deadliest terrorist attacks.

Military sources have said Hashim was not known to have visited Syria or Iraq, but travelled to India's Tamil Nadu state, which borders Kerala, and had been in contact with Islamists there.

Hashim also appeared in a video released by the Islamic State group, showing him leading others in pledging allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.&nbsp;

IS has claimed responsibility for the Sri Lanka attacks.

India had warned Sri Lanka that suicide attacks were possible weeks before.

The NIA said that it arrested Riyas "for conspiring to commit a terrorist act" in connection with a 2016 case against an Indian man wanted, along with others, for leaving India to join IS abroad.

Riyas had allegedly been in online contact with that suspect, Abdul Rashid Abdulla, alias Abu Isa, and followed his online audio posts including one "instigating others to carry out terror attacks in India", NIA said.

IS in India?

Aboobacker's arrest comes at a time when New Delhi is already anxious about the footprint of IS in the Hindu-majority country.

Indian authorities have already arrested several people allegedly inspired by radical Islamist ideology in recent months.

In 2016 the NIA launched an investigation into the disappearance of 15 young Indians thought to have left to join IS in Afghanistan and Syria.

Pockets of southern India have since been on the radar of Indian investigators concerned over growing radicalism.&nbsp;

Kabir Taneja, associate fellow with New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, said that the danger of attacks may have increased since the collapse of IS's "caliphate" across swathes of Iraq and Syria.

"I think some level of nervousness is expected, and it's good," Taneja told AFP.

"Until now the attraction was to travel to the caliphate. What Sri Lanka might do is push for radicalised people to commit attacks at home," he added.

The NIA recently announced that it had arrested an operative in an IS-inspired group that allegedly planned attacks in and around New Delhi.

The arrest was soon followed by raids in three different parts of Kerala as part of a separate, ongoing investigation into three people suspected of links with the people who left India to join IS.

The NIA said that its raids had recovered mobile phones, memory cards, diaries with handwritten notes and DVDs, and books of the banned Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.

 
&nbsp;

An alleged follower of Sri Lankan bombing mastermind Zahran Hashim was set to appear before an Indian court Tuesday after admitting he wanted to carry out an attack in India, investigators said.

An alleged follower of Sri Lankan bombing mastermind Zahran Hashim was set to appear before an Indian court Tuesday after admitting he wanted to carry out an attack in India, investigators said. India has been concerned about Islamist extremists on its soil for some time and the April 21 Sri Lanka bombings that killed 253 people has left authorities alarmed that India might be at risk of a jihadist attack. Also read: Sri Lanka plotters planning more attacks: US ambassador Teplitz The Indian national, identified as Riyas A, alias Riyas Aboobacker, 29, was arrested on Monday by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), which handles counter-terrorism cases. During interrogation, he "disclosed that he has been following speeches/videos of Zahran Hashim of Sri Lanka for more than a year", an NIA statement said. "He admitted that he wanted to carry out a suicide attack in Kerala," a southern Indian state, it added. Hashim was a Sri Lankan Muslim preacher who led the coordinated Easter Sunday suicide attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, in one of the world's deadliest terrorist attacks. Military sources have said Hashim was not known to have visited Syria or Iraq, but travelled to India's Tamil Nadu state, which borders Kerala, and had been in contact with Islamists there. Hashim also appeared in a video released by the Islamic State group, showing him leading others in pledging allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. IS has claimed responsibility for the Sri Lanka attacks. India had warned Sri Lanka that suicide attacks were possible weeks before. The NIA said that it arrested Riyas "for conspiring to commit a terrorist act" in connection with a 2016 case against an Indian man wanted, along with others, for leaving India to join IS abroad. Riyas had allegedly been in online contact with that suspect, Abdul Rashid Abdulla, alias Abu Isa, and followed his online audio posts including one "instigating others to carry out terror attacks in India", NIA said. IS in India? Aboobacker's arrest comes at a time when New Delhi is already anxious about the footprint of IS in the Hindu-majority country. Indian authorities have already arrested several people allegedly inspired by radical Islamist ideology in recent months. In 2016 the NIA launched an investigation into the disappearance of 15 young Indians thought to have left to join IS in Afghanistan and Syria. Pockets of southern India have since been on the radar of Indian investigators concerned over growing radicalism. Kabir Taneja, associate fellow with New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, said that the danger of attacks may have increased since the collapse of IS's "caliphate" across swathes of Iraq and Syria. "I think some level of nervousness is expected, and it's good," Taneja told AFP. "Until now the attraction was to travel to the caliphate. What Sri Lanka might do is push for radicalised people to commit attacks at home," he added. The NIA recently announced that it had arrested an operative in an IS-inspired group that allegedly planned attacks in and around New Delhi. The arrest was soon followed by raids in three different parts of Kerala as part of a separate, ongoing investigation into three people suspected of links with the people who left India to join IS. The NIA said that its raids had recovered mobile phones, memory cards, diaries with handwritten notes and DVDs, and books of the banned Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.

Follower of Sri Lanka bomber sought India attack: Police

Thoughts and prayers pour into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankan-police-looking-for-140-with-islamic-state-links-president-sirisena-213636">Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Easter Sunday's bombings</a>, however, the survivors of the attacks are left wondering why they survived and their families and friends didn't.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-releases-photos-of-suspects-of-church-hotel-bombing-that-killed-nearly-250-213584">Sri Lanka releases photos of suspects of church, hotel bombings that killed nearly 250&nbsp;</a>

Anusha Kumar, a mother who lost her husband and two children on Easter Sunday at the St Sebastian Church, sees no hope left after the attack.

Now the picture of her family has become her bedfellow as she feels the emptiness of not having her children around. She is angry at the lack of action, but her grief weighs heavier on her heart.

"If they had informed us, our cardinal would have protected us. We would have been vigilant of our surroundings. I saw the bomber but didn't realize until the explosion. If I knew he was bomber I would have hugged my daughter to protect her. I would have saved my child, she was right next to me," said Kumar.

Kumar's mother-in-law Teresa witnessed the bodies of her son, daughter and five grandkids being brought to her house after the attacks.

"I am under shock and I have no words to express my pain. I am completely alone. I am hurting a lot," said Teresa.

Teresa's son-in-law feels as alone as her. Pradeep Sushanta was waiting at the gate of the church for his family to come out after mass concluded, and in a fraction of a second his wait has become endless. He was one of the first to go in after the blast to find his children dead and his wife half-alive, who later passed away at the hospital.

"I am not alive. I wish I died with them when it happened. They were my family they were my life. Now that they have gone I am lifeless," said Sushanta.

These explosions have left behind many lifeless families. With the death toll rising every day, a stream of funerals and burials are taking place everyday.

Sri Lankan security services are continuing their investigation to eliminate potential second-or-third-round attacks after Easter Sunday's bombings, as the undetected terrorists may prepare to strike again. 
&nbsp;

Thoughts and prayers pour into Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Easter Sunday's bombings, however, the survivors of the attacks are left wondering why they survived and their families and friends didn't.

Thoughts and prayers pour into Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Easter Sunday's bombings, however, the survivors of the attacks are left wondering why they survived and their families and friends didn't. Also read: Sri Lanka releases photos of suspects of church, hotel bombings that killed nearly 250 Anusha Kumar, a mother who lost her husband and two children on Easter Sunday at the St Sebastian Church, sees no hope left after the attack. Now the picture of her family has become her bedfellow as she feels the emptiness of not having her children around. She is angry at the lack of action, but her grief weighs heavier on her heart. "If they had informed us, our cardinal would have protected us. We would have been vigilant of our surroundings. I saw the bomber but didn't realize until the explosion. If I knew he was bomber I would have hugged my daughter to protect her. I would have saved my child, she was right next to me," said Kumar. Kumar's mother-in-law Teresa witnessed the bodies of her son, daughter and five grandkids being brought to her house after the attacks. "I am under shock and I have no words to express my pain. I am completely alone. I am hurting a lot," said Teresa. Teresa's son-in-law feels as alone as her. Pradeep Sushanta was waiting at the gate of the church for his family to come out after mass concluded, and in a fraction of a second his wait has become endless. He was one of the first to go in after the blast to find his children dead and his wife half-alive, who later passed away at the hospital. "I am not alive. I wish I died with them when it happened. They were my family they were my life. Now that they have gone I am lifeless," said Sushanta. These explosions have left behind many lifeless families. With the death toll rising every day, a stream of funerals and burials are taking place everyday. Sri Lankan security services are continuing their investigation to eliminate potential second-or-third-round attacks after Easter Sunday's bombings, as the undetected terrorists may prepare to strike again.

Survivors of Sri Lankan bombings mourn empty future without loved ones

Survivors of suicide bomb attacks on churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka that killed 321 people recounted the horrors of the blasts and buried their dead relatives, as the first images of a suspected bomber were released by authorities on Tuesday (April 23).

Survivors recount horrors of blast and bury dead relatives

Sri Lanka on Tuesday saw another day of dramatic developments in the aftermath of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cctv-video-shows-suspected-suicide-bomber-entering-sri-lankan-church-moments-before-blast-212866">Sunday's terror attack</a> that killed more than 300 people.&nbsp;

State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene confirmed in the Parliament that Islamist group National Thowfeeth Jamath (NTJ) was responsible for the worst terror attack in the island nation.&nbsp;

Speaking in the Special session of the Parliament, Wijewardene said, "National Thowfeeth Jamat group which carried out the attacks had close links with JMI, it has now been revealed"

He also said&nbsp;that the attacks were carried out in "retaliation" for the attacks on Mosques in New Zealand.

On Monday, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne first confirmed that NTJ was linked to the attack.

Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-sri-lanka-bombings-212899">the Islamic State has claimed</a> responsibility for the attacks via the group's Amaq news agency.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also speaking in the Parliament said&nbsp;his country is now facing a different conflict and the group responsible for it is part of the 'global terror network".

Earlier in the day, mass burials happened near the St Sebastian Church in Negambo, which is one hours drive from Capital Colombo. There have been heartbreaking scenes of families breaking down as they bury there loved ones who died in the terrorist attack. CCTV footage of the bomber in of the church was also given by the locals.

White flags and ribbons have been put up at shops, roadsides and other places in the country to mourn the loss. The country has marked the national day of morning on Tuesday with flags at half mast and a minute of silence observed at 8:30am.

Tuesday was the first day of the emergency in the country. Security has been beefed up across the country especially in hotels since a number of hotels were also targetted on Sunday, out of the three hotels which were targeted, two have been closed down.

The situation remains tense in Colombo with police issuing a high alert about a lorry suspected of carrying explosives.

On Monday, WION in Colombo was just a few meters away from St Anthony's church when an explosion took place when bomb disposal units of the Special task force was trying to diffuse a bomb.

The security forces had found the suspicious van outside the church.&nbsp;

The authorities have now issue an advisory, that if anyone parks a car on the road, they must put their mobile number on the windscreen.

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Sri Lanka on Tuesday saw another day of dramatic developments in the aftermath of Sunday's terror attack that killed more than 300 people. State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene confirmed in the Parliament that Islamist group National Thowfeeth Jamath (NTJ) was responsible for the worst terror attack in the island nation.

Sri Lanka on Tuesday saw another day of dramatic developments in the aftermath of Sunday's terror attack that killed more than 300 people. State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene confirmed in the Parliament that Islamist group National Thowfeeth Jamath (NTJ) was responsible for the worst terror attack in the island nation. Speaking in the Special session of the Parliament, Wijewardene said, "National Thowfeeth Jamat group which carried out the attacks had close links with JMI, it has now been revealed" He also said that the attacks were carried out in "retaliation" for the attacks on Mosques in New Zealand. On Monday, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne first confirmed that NTJ was linked to the attack. Meanwhile, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks via the group's Amaq news agency. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also speaking in the Parliament said his country is now facing a different conflict and the group responsible for it is part of the 'global terror network". Earlier in the day, mass burials happened near the St Sebastian Church in Negambo, which is one hours drive from Capital Colombo. There have been heartbreaking scenes of families breaking down as they bury there loved ones who died in the terrorist attack. CCTV footage of the bomber in of the church was also given by the locals. White flags and ribbons have been put up at shops, roadsides and other places in the country to mourn the loss. The country has marked the national day of morning on Tuesday with flags at half mast and a minute of silence observed at 8:30am. Tuesday was the first day of the emergency in the country. Security has been beefed up across the country especially in hotels since a number of hotels were also targetted on Sunday, out of the three hotels which were targeted, two have been closed down. The situation remains tense in Colombo with police issuing a high alert about a lorry suspected of carrying explosives. On Monday, WION in Colombo was just a few meters away from St Anthony's church when an explosion took place when bomb disposal units of the Special task force was trying to diffuse a bomb. The security forces had found the suspicious van outside the church. The authorities have now issue an advisory, that if anyone parks a car on the road, they must put their mobile number on the windscreen.

Sri Lanka on high alert as mass burials take place in St Sebastian Church

Easter Sunday (April 21) bomb blasts at three churches and four hotels in Sri Lanka killed more than 200 people and wounded at least 450, police officials said, the first major attack on the Indian Ocean island since the end of a civil war 10 years ago.

Sri Lanka bombings death toll passes 200, seven arrested