After long wrangling with radical Buddhist leaders, suicide bomb attacks against churches and hotels would be a spectacular departure for the little-known Islamic extremist group. Authorities said 24 people have been arrested and that they were hunting for links between the group and foreign backers. After one incident in 2016, Galagodaatte Gnanasara, head of radical Buddhist group the BSS, warned there would be “a blood bath” unless Razik was arrested. In January, Sri Lankan security forces discovered 100kg of high explosives and 100 detonators near a remote wildlife park. Major questions are now being asked over whether Sri Lankan police did enough to head off fears of suicide attacks on churches.

Source: The Star April 22, 2019 14:03 UTC