NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Counterterrorism weighed-in Monday on the series of deadly bombings that rocked Sri Lanka over the Easter weekend; saying the attacks could signify the “resurgence of al Qaeda” in the region.
"What you’re looking at is the kind of operation that would take a great deal of organization, a good deal of funding, and more importantly, a fairly large number of people for your average terrorist plot." — NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & @NYPDCT John Miller pic.twitter.com/A2AaxvL4Kz
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) April 22, 2019
“What we heard, we didn’t like. Which was a complex, multi-location attack that was very well organized. And then making sure we put the pieces into place here against any similar targets,” Miller said.
“Number one, is this the resurgence of Al Qaeda, which has been expanding its network to pick up these affiliates? Because it is certainly more their style. Number two: Is this an ISIS-influenced group? When ISIS has gone from being a caliphate, gone from being an infantry, and now remains solely as a terrorist group. And number three: Is this a local group that has grown in sophistication and complexity,” Miller added.
Multiple Easter Sunday Bombings Kill 200+ at Sri Lanka Churches, Hotels
A series of Easter bombings targeting at least three churches and three luxury hotels took the lives of over 200 people in Sri Lanka Sunday; with authorities saying an additional 450 were injured or missing.
“A pair holding U.S. and British nationalities were among the 11 foreigners killed after a series of explosions struck three churches and three luxury hotels in and just outside of Sri Lanka’s capital Easter Sunday, leaving at least 207 people dead and 450 others injured, officials said,” reports Fox News.
“Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said the other foreigners whose nationalities have been verified included three Indians, one Portuguese national, two Turkish nationals, and three British nationals,” adds the article.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
UPDATE: Sri Lanka Says ‘Islamist Militants’ Behind Attack, Nearly 300 Dead, Social Media Blocked
Officials in Sri Lanka continued to block the nation’s access to social media Monday; fearing more bloodshed after ‘Islamist militants’ launched a series of bombings across the country on Easter Sunday that claimed the lives of nearly 300 people.
“Sri Lankan officials believe an Islamist militant group was behind the Easter morning attacks on churches and luxury hotels that killed at least 290 people and wounded another 500, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told reporters,” reports the Wall Street Journal.
“Officials had said previously that another country had warned that the group, known as National Thowheed Jamath, was planning attacks in Sri Lanka, but the warnings weren’t specific enough to effectively act on and didn’t include hotels or tourist sites as potential targets,” adds the article.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Thank you for visiting