State intelligence sees ISIS hand in Sri Lanka blasts, LTTE regrouping ruled out

“TN coastal districts are on high alert,” a senior state police official noted. The districts police officials had been asked to keep an eye on outsiders camping in the districts. Patrolling has been increased and Coastal Security Wing has been activated, a senior official added.

Though initially the intelligence community in Tamil Nadu was checking on the possibility of Tamil Tigers regrouping and executing the explosions, it was ruled out by sources in Sri Lanka.

“Information received here indicates that the explosions were carried out by suicide bombers of National Thowheeth Jama’ath having alliance with ISIS. Two suicide bombers were also identified,” sources here said. Sources also added that the identified suspects had been working at the Hambantota harbour, which is being developed by Chinese authority. A good number of workers at the harbour are from Pakistan,sources added.

A foreign intelligence agency has reportedly alerted the Sri Lankan police that the outfit was planning to carry out suicide attacks targetting prominent churches as well as the Indian High Commission in Colombo, sources said here.

Meanwhile, Chennai police beefed up security for Sri Lankan establishments after the serial bomb blasts in Colombo. “Additional police personnel are deployed at Sri Lankan mission in Chennai and other Buddhist establishments”, a senior police official said.