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Sri Lanka attacks: Government admits 'major intelligence lapse' | Sri Lanka attacks: Government admits 'major intelligence lapse' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Sri Lanka has admitted a "major intelligence lapse" before the Easter Sunday bomb attacks which killed 359 people and wounded more than 500. | Sri Lanka has admitted a "major intelligence lapse" before the Easter Sunday bomb attacks which killed 359 people and wounded more than 500. |
An Indian intelligence warning from the beginning of the month about planned attacks was not properly shared by the authorities, parliament heard. | An Indian intelligence warning from the beginning of the month about planned attacks was not properly shared by the authorities, parliament heard. |
President Maithripala Sirisena has moved to sack the defence secretary and inspector general of police. | President Maithripala Sirisena has moved to sack the defence secretary and inspector general of police. |
Eight of the nine attackers have been identified as Sri Lankan citizens. | Eight of the nine attackers have been identified as Sri Lankan citizens. |
The government is investigating whether the Islamic State (IS) group was involved in the attacks which targeted churches and high-end hotels. | The government is investigating whether the Islamic State (IS) group was involved in the attacks which targeted churches and high-end hotels. |
It has emerged that one of the attackers once studied in the UK and Australia before returning to Sri Lanka. | It has emerged that one of the attackers once studied in the UK and Australia before returning to Sri Lanka. |
How did the authorities get it wrong? | How did the authorities get it wrong? |
"We have to take responsibility because unfortunately if the sharing of the intelligence information had been given to the right people, I think that at least this could have been avoided or even minimised," said Deputy Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene. | "We have to take responsibility because unfortunately if the sharing of the intelligence information had been given to the right people, I think that at least this could have been avoided or even minimised," said Deputy Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene. |
Lakshman Kiriella, the leader of parliament, said senior officials had deliberately withheld intelligence about possible attacks. | Lakshman Kiriella, the leader of parliament, said senior officials had deliberately withheld intelligence about possible attacks. |
"Some top intelligence officials hid the intelligence information purposefully," he told MPs. | "Some top intelligence officials hid the intelligence information purposefully," he told MPs. |
"Information was there but the top brass security officials did not take appropriate actions." | "Information was there but the top brass security officials did not take appropriate actions." |
He said the Indian tip-off had been received on 4 April but, Reuters news agency says, both the president and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly did not receive it. | He said the Indian tip-off had been received on 4 April but, Reuters news agency says, both the president and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly did not receive it. |
President Sirisena replaced Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and took steps to sack the Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara. | President Sirisena replaced Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and took steps to sack the Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara. |
What do we know about the attackers? | What do we know about the attackers? |
The whereabouts of Islamist preacher Zahran Hashim, who is suspected of being the bombers' ringleader, remain unclear. | The whereabouts of Islamist preacher Zahran Hashim, who is suspected of being the bombers' ringleader, remain unclear. |
He appears in an IS video but police do not know whether he detonated one of the suicide bombs or is still at large. | He appears in an IS video but police do not know whether he detonated one of the suicide bombs or is still at large. |
His sister told the BBC: "I came to know about his actions only through the media. Even for a moment, I never thought that he would do such a thing. | |
"I strongly deplore what he has done. Even if he is my brother, I cannot accept this. I'm not worried about him anymore." | "I strongly deplore what he has done. Even if he is my brother, I cannot accept this. I'm not worried about him anymore." |
Most of the attackers were "well educated" and came from "middle or upper middle class" families, according to Mr Wijewardene. | Most of the attackers were "well educated" and came from "middle or upper middle class" families, according to Mr Wijewardene. |
One of the attackers, named as Abdul Latif Jamil Mohammed, had spent time studying in the UK. | One of the attackers, named as Abdul Latif Jamil Mohammed, had spent time studying in the UK. |
A senior Whitehall official told the BBC that he visited south-east England in 2006-7 to study but did not complete a full university degree. | A senior Whitehall official told the BBC that he visited south-east England in 2006-7 to study but did not complete a full university degree. |
From privilege to terror | From privilege to terror |
Analysis by the BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner | Analysis by the BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner |
The announcement that most of the attackers were "well educated" and "middle class" is not as surprising as it sounds. | The announcement that most of the attackers were "well educated" and "middle class" is not as surprising as it sounds. |
Although poverty and lack of opportunities have steered many down a path to terrorism, there are also numerous examples of individuals abandoning a relatively comfortable lifestyle for a violent cause. | Although poverty and lack of opportunities have steered many down a path to terrorism, there are also numerous examples of individuals abandoning a relatively comfortable lifestyle for a violent cause. |
Ziad Jarrah, one of the 9/11 attackers who hijacked United Airlines flight 93, came from a privileged Lebanese family. More recently, there have been cases of British jihadists who have worked for the NHS, including doctors. | Ziad Jarrah, one of the 9/11 attackers who hijacked United Airlines flight 93, came from a privileged Lebanese family. More recently, there have been cases of British jihadists who have worked for the NHS, including doctors. |
The late IS executioner Mohammed Emwazi, aka "Jihadi John", attended the University of Westminster in London. And the original co-founder of al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, chose to leave behind a luxurious life in Jeddah to go and fight the Soviets in Afghanistan during the 1980s. | The late IS executioner Mohammed Emwazi, aka "Jihadi John", attended the University of Westminster in London. And the original co-founder of al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, chose to leave behind a luxurious life in Jeddah to go and fight the Soviets in Afghanistan during the 1980s. |
Sri Lanka's government has blamed the blasts on local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) but Mr Wickremesinghe said the attacks "could not have been done just locally". | Sri Lanka's government has blamed the blasts on local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) but Mr Wickremesinghe said the attacks "could not have been done just locally". |
NTJ has no history of large-scale attacks but came to prominence last year when it was blamed for damaging Buddhist statues. The group has not said it carried out Sunday's bombings. | NTJ has no history of large-scale attacks but came to prominence last year when it was blamed for damaging Buddhist statues. The group has not said it carried out Sunday's bombings. |
IS said online that it had "targeted nationals of the crusader alliance [anti-IS US-led coalition] and Christians in Sri Lanka". | IS said online that it had "targeted nationals of the crusader alliance [anti-IS US-led coalition] and Christians in Sri Lanka". |
It provided no evidence for the claim other than images on social media of the suspected attackers. | It provided no evidence for the claim other than images on social media of the suspected attackers. |
What action are security forces taking? | What action are security forces taking? |
Police have now detained around 60 suspects in connection with the attack. A state of emergency remains in effect to prevent further attacks. | Police have now detained around 60 suspects in connection with the attack. A state of emergency remains in effect to prevent further attacks. |
The nearly simultaneous attacks targeted three churches packed for Easter services and three major hotels in the capital, Colombo. | The nearly simultaneous attacks targeted three churches packed for Easter services and three major hotels in the capital, Colombo. |
An attack on a fourth hotel on Sunday was foiled, Mr Wickremesinghe said. He also warned that further militants and explosives could still be "out there" following the attack. | An attack on a fourth hotel on Sunday was foiled, Mr Wickremesinghe said. He also warned that further militants and explosives could still be "out there" following the attack. |
One of the targeted hotels, the Kingsbury, has now reopened. | One of the targeted hotels, the Kingsbury, has now reopened. |
The country remains tense with police still looking for suspects and possible further explosives. | The country remains tense with police still looking for suspects and possible further explosives. |
Cautioning about "ongoing terrorist plots in the country", US envoy to Sri Lanka Alaina Teplitz told reporters that terrorists could "strike without warning". | Cautioning about "ongoing terrorist plots in the country", US envoy to Sri Lanka Alaina Teplitz told reporters that terrorists could "strike without warning". |
Who were the victims? | Who were the victims? |
The first mass funeral was held on Tuesday, as Sri Lanka marked an official day of mourning for the victims. | The first mass funeral was held on Tuesday, as Sri Lanka marked an official day of mourning for the victims. |
Most of those who died were Sri Lankan nationals, including scores of Christians attending Easter Sunday church services. | Most of those who died were Sri Lankan nationals, including scores of Christians attending Easter Sunday church services. |
Some 38 foreign nationals were among the dead, with another 14 unaccounted for. The death toll includes at least eight British citizens and at least 11 Indian nationals. | Some 38 foreign nationals were among the dead, with another 14 unaccounted for. The death toll includes at least eight British citizens and at least 11 Indian nationals. |
The mass funeral for about 30 victims took place at St Sebastian's church in Negombo, north of Colombo, which was one of the places targeted in Sunday's blasts. | The mass funeral for about 30 victims took place at St Sebastian's church in Negombo, north of Colombo, which was one of the places targeted in Sunday's blasts. |