24 people arrested in connection with multiple blasts in Sri Lanka

Colombo, April 22

Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 24 people from the minority Muslim community in connection with the multiple blasts that rocked the island nation on Sunday, killing over 290 people.

A string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, struck churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing over 290 people, including six Indians, and shattering a decade of peace in the island nation since the end of the brutal civil war with the LTTE.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the number of arrests on the incidents had now gone up to 24. However, the government said they would not disclose the details of the suspects involved in the attacks to prevent them from getting publicity.

“Don’t give extremists a voice. Don’t help to make them martyrs,” State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene told reporters when asked for details of those in custody.

Police officials privately said the suspects were all from the minority Muslim community.

Police said the van which had carried explosives to carry out bomb attacks at the three hotels was impounded and its Muslim driver arrested.

A safe house where the bombers had lived for nearly three months leading to the attacks was discovered in the south of Colombo suburb of Panadura. 

The Sri Lanka Air Force said it found an improvised explosives device along a road leading to the departure terminal at the Colombo international airport on Sunday night.

“It was a crude six-foot pipe bomb that was found by the roadside,” an air force spokesman said.

“We have removed it and safely defused it at an air force location,” he added. PTI