Court detains two accomplices of Easter Sunday attack ring leader for 72 hours

A  72-hour detention order was issued on two suspects who were arrested in Horowpathana, over their alleged ties with Easter Sunday attack ring leader Zahran Cassim.

The order was issued when the suspects were produced before the Kebithigollewa Magistrate’s Court today (May 17).

Special Task Force (STF) personnel had taken the suspects into custody during a search operation carried out yesterday.

The suspects are believed to have booked hotel rooms, and arranged transportation for the bombing at the Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand hotels. Accordingly, a search operation has been launched to seize the two vehicles as well.

Meanwhile, it is also believed that Zahran Cassim had informed the suspects of the manner in which the next suicide attacks should take place. Cassim had allegedly told the individuals that the terrorist group will have to be led by them following the Easter Sunday attacks on April 21.

According to the Police, the suspects had been living under the same address in Kapugollewa, Horowpathana. The suspects, N.M. Abdul Rasool and Mohamed Nijam have been identified as a Principal and an Acting Principal of two Muslim schools respectively.

It is believed that the arrested persons had also co-ordinated the construction of a National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) mosque in the area. This mosque had been funded by two suicide bombers involved in the Easter Sunday attacks, identified as ringleader Zahran Cassim and Mohamed Ibrahim Ansar.

A lengthy questioning is being carried out on the suspects regarding their links with the NTJ group, police noted.

(Additional reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)