Hashim was among the group of suicide bombers that targeted churches and hotels across Sri Lanka, killing over 250 people. He admitted that he wanted to carry out a suicide attack in Kerala,” NIA IG Alok Mittal said. According to the NIA, Riyas was also chatting online “with Abdul Khayoom alias Abu Khalid who was believed to be in Syria”. Sources said the Hashim video with Riyas was similar to the one retrieved from the phones of six IS suspects detained in Coimbatore last September. “In the video, Hashim is seen asking Muslims to join his cause of forming an Islamic Wilaya (province) in the region,” sources said.

Source: Indian Express April 29, 2019 23:30 UTC