THE BRITISH CONNECTION DEEP PAIN
One bomber studied here Attackers were all affluent
ONE of the Sri Lanka Easter suicide bombers studied in the UK before returning to join the plot which massacred 359 innocents, including eight Britons.
As a mass burial was held for victims near Colombo’s St Sebastian’s Church yesterday, he was named by media outlets as Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed.
Security sources said he studied in England at some point between 2006 and 2007. It is understood he later did a postgraduate course in Australia, before returning to Sri Lanka.
Deputy Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said: “Some [bombers] went abroad for studies. One, we know went to the UK, then Australia for a law degree. Foreign partners, including the UK, are helping us with investigations.”
The former student was reportedly involved in the seventh explosion at the Tropical Inn Hotel in the southern Colombo suburb of Dehiwala, which killed two.
One line of inquiry is that he planned to bomb another luxury five-star hotel before setting off his device.
“He went in, but the device did not go off,” revealed a source involved in the inquiry yesterday.
“He left the bag behind, and the manager had to run after him to give it back.”
Investigators believe he may have set off his device by mistake. Details of his involvement came as the Sri Lanka authorities said all nine
Some went abroad for studies... one went to the UK DEFENCE MINISTER ON ATTACKER’S UK LINKS
bombers – eight men and one woman – had affluent backgrounds.
Mr Wijewardene said the suspects were wealthy and “financially independent”, adding: “That is a worry.”
Two were named by police sources as millionaire’s sons Ilham Ibrahim, 32, and brother Inshaf, 35.
Ilham was behind the breakfast buffet attack at the Shangri-La Hotel, which killed Londoner Amelie Linsey, 15, and her brother, Daniel, 19, on the last day of their trip. Yesterday Lord Leigh of Hurley urged the Government to ensure their bodies were brought home “as soon as possible.”
Inshaf, copper factory boss and director of his father’s spice business, was the Cinnamon Grand attacker.
It was reported two other brothers from the Ibrahim family were also linked to the outrage. Ijas, 30, was said to be in custody last night.
Youngest sibling Ismail, whose age is unknown, went missing when the family home was blown up by Ilham’s pregnant wife Fatima, 25, killing their two children, and three policemen.
Their father, Yoonus, 65, a wealthy trader, former parliamentary candidate and trustee at a mosque, was also being quizzed by police.
Inshaf’s brother-in-law Ashkhan Alawdeen said: “I can’t believe there is more than one member of the family involved in this investigation.
“My sister hasn’t been able to talk since this happened. She is beyond devastated she could have married such a man. I don’t feel safe – not even in my own house. I feel sick they have done this to all those innocent people. The bombers are psychopaths.”
A neighbour of the Ibrahim family added: “They are incredibly wealthy people and their father has done a lot for the community around her.
“Most of us rent our houses from him. He is highly respected, but has had trouble with his sons.”
She said Fatima’s pregnancy was showing and she had two sons, aged four and two. Fiyaz Lafir, 49, a trustee of Colombo’s Grand Central Mosque with Yoonus Ibrahim, was shocked to learn of the family’s involvement.
“The first we knew was when we saw his arrest on TV,” he said, referring to Yoonus. “He never spoke of extremism or other terrorist incidents. He was worth a lot of money.”
Authorities stated there were nine bombers, and one of them was female, after IS released a “team” photo of the eight men together prior to the attack.
Sri Lanka’s government has blamed local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath for the attacks, but said they must have had overseas support.
Sixty suspects remain in custody in connection with the attacks.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Thala Farzan, named by state media as the St Sebastian church bomber, has denied playing any part in the plot.