Link to mosque attack reiterated

WELLINGTON: The Sri Lanka Government has reiterated its belief the Easter Sunday attacks were inspired by the mosque atrocities in Christchurch.

Sri Lanka deputy defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene said their intelligence authorities believed there was a clear link to Christchurch.

‘‘We believe that this is a reprisal . . . the Christchurch incident motivated these guys to carry out these blast’s on Easter Sunday [sic],’’ he told media yesterday.

Mr Wijewardene’s claims come after it was revealed Sri Lankan security services were warned about a potential terror attack.

Ten days before the Easter Sunday bombings, a top police official warned about an ‘‘alleged plan attack’’ from a radical Islamic extremist.

A member of the National Thowheet Jama’ath group was found using social media to spread ‘‘hate speech against nonMuslims’’ following the Christchurch mosque shootings.

Islamic State yesterday claimed responsibility for the bombings. — NZME