Sri Lanka Probes ISIS Activities After Arrest of Suspected Terrorists in India

Sri Lanka investigates ISIS activities following the arrest of four suspected terrorists in India, aiming to prevent potential terror attacks and dismantle any existing networks. Collaboration between Sri Lankan and Indian intelligence agencies is crucial for regional security.

Sri Lankan intelligence agencies have launched a fresh investigation into ISIS activities in the country after the arrest of four suspected ISIS terrorists, all Sri Lankan nationals, at the Ahmedabad airport in India. The suspects, identified as Mohammad Nusrat (33), Mohammad Farish (35), Mohammad Nafran (27), and Mohammad Rashdeen (43), had recently traveled from Colombo to Chennai before being apprehended in Ahmedabad by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad.

Reports indicate that the four individuals were tasked by a Pakistani handler to conduct terror attacks in Gujarat targeting Jews, Christians, and members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service has requested more information from Indian authorities to better understand the suspects' backgrounds and their connections to ISIS.

Sri Lanka's Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles, emphasized the seriousness of the situation and assured that Sri Lankan security agencies are closely monitoring developments. "We are working in close coordination with our Indian counterparts to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to address any potential threat," Alles stated.

This development comes five years after a devastating series of suicide bombings by ISIS-affiliated attackers on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. The 2019 attacks targeted three churches and several hotels, resulting in the deaths of 270 people, including 45 foreigners, and injuring over 500. Despite prior warnings from Indian intelligence about the planned attacks, Sri Lankan authorities failed to act, which was later acknowledged as a significant security lapse.

The ongoing probe aims to prevent any recurrence of such incidents and to dismantle any existing terror networks within Sri Lanka. The collaboration between Sri Lankan and Indian intelligence agencies is crucial to ensure regional security and prevent terrorist activities.