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What We Know and Don’t Know About the Sri Lanka Attacks Sri Lanka Attacks: What We Know and Don’t Know
(about 1 hour later)
The investigation into a deadly series of suicide bombings in Sri Lanka entered a fourth day on Wednesday. While new information continues to emerge about the bombings, some basic questions remain unanswered.The investigation into a deadly series of suicide bombings in Sri Lanka entered a fourth day on Wednesday. While new information continues to emerge about the bombings, some basic questions remain unanswered.
• One of the suicide bombers who killed more than 300 people in coordinated attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday was a woman, the authorities said on Wednesday, revising the total number of attackers tied to a Muslim extremist organization to nine from eight. • The police in Sri Lanka on Wednesday arrested a man carrying 30 pounds of explosives and 25 mobile phones near an army camp in the eastern city of Batticoloa, leading to concerns of a wider campaign of terror in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks that left more than 350 people dead.
• The government said Wednesday that it had arrested more than 50 people in connection with the attacks, all of them Sri Lankans. The government has blamed the group National Thowheeth Jama’ath for the attacks, and on Wednesday said it was likely that the group’s leader was among those who blew themselves up. • Sixty people have been arrested in connection with Sunday’s attacks, Ruwan Wijewardene, the country’s state minister of defense, said at a news conference. Nine bombers, including one woman, carried out the suicide attacks on churches and hotels, Mr. Wijewardene said, adding that the leader of the homegrown terror group was among them.
• The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which killed more than 350 people and wounded about 500. • Indian intelligence officials warned their Sri Lankan counterparts of the attack two hours before the first bomb was detonated, but the Sri Lankans failed to act. It was the last in a series of unheeded alerts, including an intelligence memo written at least 10 days before the attack that warned of the attack.
• The victims came from more than a dozen countries, and included worshipers at Easter services. • The government has blamed the group National Thowheeth Jama’ath for the attacks and said it received foreign assistance. On Tuesday, the Islamic State claimed its “fighters” were responsible.
• More than 350 people were killed, and about 500 were wounded. The victims came from more than a dozen countries, and included children worshiping at Easter services.
• A cabinet member on Tuesday said the bombings may have been in retaliation for attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March. On Wednesday, a government minister and former army chief said planning may have been several years in the making.• A cabinet member on Tuesday said the bombings may have been in retaliation for attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March. On Wednesday, a government minister and former army chief said planning may have been several years in the making.
• The United States Embassy confirmed that agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were in Sri Lanka to assist.• The United States Embassy confirmed that agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were in Sri Lanka to assist.
• The death toll rose to at least 359. Unicef, the United Nations children agency, said at least 45 of those killed were children.• The death toll rose to at least 359. Unicef, the United Nations children agency, said at least 45 of those killed were children.
• The attacks took place at three churches and three hotels on Easter morning in three separate cities across the island. Two more explosions happened in the afternoon in and around Colombo, one at a small guesthouse and the other at what was the suspects’ apparent safe house. Three officers searching for the attackers were killed in that blast.• The attacks took place at three churches and three hotels on Easter morning in three separate cities across the island. Two more explosions happened in the afternoon in and around Colombo, one at a small guesthouse and the other at what was the suspects’ apparent safe house. Three officers searching for the attackers were killed in that blast.
• The deadliest explosion was at St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, about 20 miles north of Colombo, where more than 100 were killed.• The deadliest explosion was at St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, about 20 miles north of Colombo, where more than 100 were killed.
• At least 28 people were killed at the Zion Church in Batticaloa, on the other side of the island on its eastern coast. St. Anthony’s Shrine, a Roman Catholic church in Colombo, was also attacked, with an unknown number of dead. Witnesses described “a river of blood” there.• At least 28 people were killed at the Zion Church in Batticaloa, on the other side of the island on its eastern coast. St. Anthony’s Shrine, a Roman Catholic church in Colombo, was also attacked, with an unknown number of dead. Witnesses described “a river of blood” there.
• The three hotels attacked, all in Colombo, were the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury.• The three hotels attacked, all in Colombo, were the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury.
• People from more than a dozen foreign countries were killed, along with many Sri Lankans. Several of the victims were Americans, the authorities said. Others were Australian, British, Chinese, Dutch, Indian, Portuguese, Japanese and Turkish citizens, according to officials and news reports.• People from more than a dozen foreign countries were killed, along with many Sri Lankans. Several of the victims were Americans, the authorities said. Others were Australian, British, Chinese, Dutch, Indian, Portuguese, Japanese and Turkish citizens, according to officials and news reports.
• Sri Lankan officials have yet to confirm if the so-called leader killed in the attack was Mohamad Zaharan, the radical Muslim lecturer mentioned in a security memo as the head of National Thowheeth Jama’ath who is believed to have organized the bombings.
• How two small, obscure groups — one of which was previously best known for desecrating Buddhist statues — managed to pull off sophisticated, coordinated attacks.• How two small, obscure groups — one of which was previously best known for desecrating Buddhist statues — managed to pull off sophisticated, coordinated attacks.
• The extent to which the Islamic State or other international terrorist networks may have helped with the attacks.• The extent to which the Islamic State or other international terrorist networks may have helped with the attacks.
• The names of the suicide bombers and the now 100 people being held in connection with the attacks. • The names of the suicide bombers and the now 60 people being held in connection with the attacks.
• Why the authorities failed to take substantial steps to try to prevent an attack after receiving reports of an imminent threat.• Why the authorities failed to take substantial steps to try to prevent an attack after receiving reports of an imminent threat.
• What effect the failure to stop the attacks will have on Sri Lanka’s government. The president and the prime minister were already engaged in a bitter feud.• What effect the failure to stop the attacks will have on Sri Lanka’s government. The president and the prime minister were already engaged in a bitter feud.