COLOMBO:The coordinated Easter Sunday bombings that ripped through Sri Lankan churches and luxury hotels were carried out by seven suicide bombers, a government investigator said Monday.
An analysis of the attackers’ body parts made it clear that they were suicide bombers, said Ariyananda Welianga, a forensic crime investigator. He said most attacks were carried out by a single bomber, while two have been involved at Colombo’s Shangri-La Hotel.
The bombings, Sri Lanka’s deadliest violence since a devastating civil war ended a decade ago, killed at least 290 people with more than 500 wounded, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara informed on Monday.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan police investigating the bombings are examining reports that intelligence agencies had warnings of possible attacks, officials said Monday.
Two government ministers have alluded to intelligence failures. Telecommunications Minister Harin Fernando tweeted, “Some intelligence officers were aware of this incident. There was a delay in action. Serious action needs to be taken as to why this warning was ignored.” He said his father had heard of the possibility of an attack as well and had warned him not to enter popular churches. (Agencies)
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