PURE EVIL
ISIS has released a picture which it claims shows seven suicide bombers alongside the mastermind who co-ordinated the Easter Sunday Sri Lanka terror attack.
The image was released by the Amaq news agency — the death cult's propaganda unit — and is said to show extremist cleric Zahran Hashim.
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Hashim is seen with men in the picture who are all seen standing in front of an ISIS flag.
Amaq news agency claimed that the terrorists involved in the attacks were "fighters of the Islamic State".
In an earlier statement, the extremists said: "The perpetrators of the attack that targeted nationals of the countries of the coalitions and Christians in Sri Lanka before yesterday are fighters from the Islamic State."
On Monday, the Sri Lankan government named local terror group National Thowheeth Jama'ath as being responsible for carrying out the horrific attacks with the help of an "international network" of Jihadis.
Earlier it emerged that an unverified video posted to social media claimed an ISIS-affiliated group was behind the attacks.
The video, purportedly from Al Ghuraba Media, run by supporters of the terror group, featured the chilling message: “This bloody day is our reward to you.”
It also showed photos of three of the alleged suicide bombers.
The men are named as Abul Barra, Abul Mukhtar and Abu Ubaida and appear in front of a black ISIS flag giving a one-finger salute.
While the bombings in Sri Lanka have all the hallmarks of an ISIS attack, the terror group has falsely claimed responsibility for atrocities in the past which were in fact carried out by deranged lone wolves.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
- At least 321 people killed and 500 injured after seven suicide bombers attacked three churches, four hotels and a block of flats in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Eight Brits, 'several' Americans, one Dutch, one Chinese, two Turkish, three Danes and one Portuguese national have been confirmed dead
- Social media ban in place to prevent spread of misinformation, and night curfew imposed
- 40 terror suspects have been arrested
- Sri Lankan government names local Islamic terror group National Thowheeth Jama'ath as being responsible for the attacks, reportedly inspired by ISIS
But cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday that the sick jihadi bombers were helped by an "international network" of terrorists to plan the coordinated assaults.
"We do not believe these attacks were carried out by a group of people who were confined to this country," Senaratne said.
"There was an international network without which these attacks could not have succeeded."
In recent years, Sri Lanka has seen at least 32 depraved ISIS soldiers returning to their country following the collapse of their so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq.
However, it is not clear if any of these men were involved in the Easter Sunday bombings.
It also emerged today that a Syrian national was being held in custody in relation to the attacks - one of around 40 suspects detained since the massacres.
Another sinister revelation was the sickening motive behind the depraved mass murder.
Sri Lanka's state minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardene told parliament today that the bombings were "carried out in retaliation" for the terrorist shootings at two mosques in Christchurch in March.
He said early findings in the ongoing investigation into the bombings showed that Islamic terror group National Thowfeek Jamaath were motivated by the events in New Zealand.
On March 15, 50 Muslim worshippers were gunned down by disturbed white supremacist Brenton Tarrant in the Kiwi city.
ISIS-linked group posts disturbing video claiming responsibility for Sri Lanka bombings
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Sri Lanka has today announced a national day of mourning after the terrifying attacks saw eight bombs detonated at hotels and churches, killing at least 321 - including eight Brits - and injuring more than 500.
Following the bombings that have crippled Sri Lanka, cops found 87 detonators at a bus station yesterday.
One of those said to have launched the attack on the Shangri-La has been named as Insan Setiawan, according to local reports.
Indian media also named the man who was said to be the "mastermind" behind the atrocity.
They reported Zahran Hashim, a radical Islamic cleric known for posting incendiary videos on YouTube, was also allegedly one of the suicide bombers who targeted the hotel.
Hashim had also wanted to attack the Indian High Commission in the capital of Sri Lanka on April 4 but failed to do so, intelligence sources told CNN-News18.
Today, a Syrian national was being held in custody by Sri Lankan police for questioning over the attacks, Reuters news agency reported.
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Moment 'Sri Lankan suicide bomber walks into church with his device in backpack' seconds before detonating it killing dozens
Politicians have admitted a massive intelligence failure and issued an apology to the victims after the country's military bosses were given key information about the planned attacks.
This intel was not passed on to the Sri Lankan government just days before the attacks.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Sri Lankan prime minister, acknowledged that “information was there” about possible attacks.
He added: “We must also look into why adequate precautions were not taken”.
It emerged Sri Lanka's police chief Pujuth Jayasundara warned cops of suicide bombers planning to hit "prominent churches" 10 days before the attack.
A United States government official told CNN said that the Jihadi attackers were inspired by ISIS.
Following Sunday's attacks, supporters of the Islamic death cult celebrating the massacres online.
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