The death toll of the anti-Christian bombings on Easter Day in Sri Lanka rose to 359 on 24 April and it was revealed one of the Islamist terrorists studied in the UK and Australia.
“We believe one of the suicide bombers studied in the UK and then later on did his postgraduate in Australia, before coming back to settle in Sri Lanka,” said Sri Lankan Deputy Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene. He did not name the terrorist or the universities or colleges he attended.
Wijewardene said eight out of nine suicide bombers had been identified and were middle or upper class, well-educated and from financially stable families. One was a wife who blew herself up when police raided her home.
Eight of the terrorists were photographed swearing allegiance to IS.
Wijewardene said that 60 Sri Lankan nationals had been arrested and that 39 were still in custody being questioned. He added that all the suspects were linked to the attackers.
