Zahran planned to carry out attacks using 20 suicide bombers: TID officer
PCOI on Easter Sunday attack:
• ZAHRAN HAD PLANNED A RETALIATION AGAINST THE CHRISTCHURCH INCIDENT IN NEW ZEALAND AND THE ATTACKS IN SYRIA
• THE EXPLOSIVES MADE BY ZAHRAN AND HIS BROTHER RILWAN HAD A CHANCE TO EXPIRE WITHIN 15 DAYS.
National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim had planned to carry out the coordinated terror attack on April 21, 2019, using 20 suicide bombers, the PCOI probing Easter Sunday attacks was informed yesterday.
Testifying before the Commission, an investigation officer attached to the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) said during the interrogation by a member of Zahran’s clan, who was in the custody said they were preparing to carry out a wave of attacks in three stages after the first attack on April 21.
The officer said during investigations, the TID found that by March 2019, there was a clash between Zahran and Naufer Moulavi, who was identified as the mentor of NTJ and Zahran Hashim.
“Alahuddin Ahamed Muaad, the suicide bomber of St.anthony’s church in Kochchikade and Abdul Latheef Jameel Mohammed, who detonated himself at the Tropical Inn, Dehiwala had hatched a plan in resolving the conflict between Zahran and Naufer Moulavi,” he said.
During the investigation it was also informed that the two of them had arrived in a car near the Mount Lavinia railway station and picked up three more members of the NTJ and went to Zahran’s safehouse at Paraththa Road, Panadura to discuss the above matter.
During the testimony the officer said that Zahran Hashim and suicide bomber of the Katuwapitiya Church, Mohammed Hastun was inside the safe house at that time.
“What was the discussion they had?” the representative from the Attorney General’s (AG) questioned the witness.
Responding to the question the witness said that the NTJ had a Shura Council with 13 members and one of them, Milhan, had presented 19 allegations against Zahran.
During the testimony the witness also said that Zahran had planned a retaliation against the Christchurch incident in New Zealand and the attacks in Syria. Zahran also said that hotels, casinos ans churches with large number of foreigners should be attacked, he said.
The representative from the AG’S department then questioned the witness according to Zahran’s plan as to how long the attack would be carried out.
“The explosives made by Zahran and his brother Rilwan had a chance to expire within 15 days. Therefore, the attack should be done within 15 days.the plan was made to carry out the attack on April 21, 2019 at the NTJ safe house in Negombo,” the witness said.