Indian embassy was target too: Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe
President Maithripala Sirisena says that 11 Indians were among the 321 killed, and eight of the dead are from Karnataka, one from Hyderabad and one is yet to be identified
Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday that India had offered specific intelligence about a jihadi threat to the island nation, days before the Easter Sunday attack. He also acknowledged that the India's embassy was eyed as a possible target.
President Maithripala Sirisena said that 11 Indians were among the 321 killed, and eight of the dead are from Karnataka, one from Hyderabad and one is yet to be identified. All 7 JD(S) members have also been confirmed to have died in the attack. Wion has learnt that the suicide bomber was sitting on the table next to them in the hotel. Assisted by the Indian mission, many of the expats working in country have come home.
Meanwhile, the Islamic State claimed responsibility via its news agency Aamaq, and named seven of the alleged attackers. Ruwan Wijewardene, the state minister of defence, told Parliament that the bombings were in "retaliation" to the Christchurch attacks in by a white supremacist.
Wickremesinghe also warned citizens of a possibility of more terror attacks as reports came in of an unidentified container truck and a van believed to be carrying explosives.