The US justice department has charged three Sri Lankans with supporting terrorism for their participation in the Islamic State-claimed Easter attacks on churches and hotels in 2019 that killed 268 people. The department said the three were part of the “Isis in Sri Lanka” group behind the attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels in three cities on the Christian holiday on 21 April 2019. The Islamic State claimed responsibility and called the well-planned attacks a retaliation for western coalition actions against the group in Syria. All three are in custody in Sri Lanka, and the department said on Friday it would support their prosecution in that country while maintaining the US charges in the event they gain their freedom. The three were charged with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation, and Naufar and Milhan were charged with helping in military-type training for the Islamic State.

Source: The Guardian January 09, 2021 02:51 UTC