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Large quantities of explosives and Daesh flags were found in a small town in the east of the country, near the birthplace of Zahran Hashim, the alleged brain of the April 21 attacks. The latter was also one of Sunday's suicide bombers.
With our special correspondent in Sri Lanka, Sébastien Farcis
Security forces were lured into an explosion in the small town of Sainthamaruthu, on the east coast of Sri Lanka. When they went to investigate, they were shot. The local media reports exchanges of fire and another explosion, which could be that of one or more people who would have detonated.
What is certain is that the final discovery is impressive as well as frightening: 150 sticks of nitroglycerin-based explosive, 100,000 balls, detonators, a drone and, finally, a large black and white flag written in Arabic: the symbol of the Islamic State organization. A real warehouse of terrorists.
This place could therefore be the landmark of the group of terrorists who attacked the hotels and churches of the country Sunday, April 21. Especially since this town is located at about thirty kilometers from the city of origin of Zahran Hashim, the alleged brain of the attacks.
He is reported to have died in one of Sunday's suicide bombings, according to the authorities. The police have now identified eight of the nine terrorists who blew themselves up in churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka. Most have advanced education and come from wealthy backgrounds.
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