Zion Church bomber's initial target was St. Mary's Cathedral
The suicide bomber who attacked the Zion Church in Batticaloa had originally targeted St. Mary’s Cathedral located nearby, Batticaloa Diocese Bishop Ret. Rev. Dr Ponnaiah Joseph told the Sunday Times.
Ret. Rev. Dr Joseph said the bomber had first been dropped off by someone in a car at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Batticaloa on that fateful Sunday. He had asked the gatekeeper whether mass was still on, but had been informed that it had already ended. Thereafter, he had got himself dropped off at the Zion Church.
At the Zion Church, an assistant junior pastor had invited the bomber to come inside due to the hot and humid conditions outside. The junior pastor had then made his way to the mass and had asked one of the devotees, R. Ramesh to look after the suspect bomber.
Mr Ramesh though, had grown suspicious of the man and asked him about why he was coming to church. The bomber had told him that he had a camera with him and wanted to film the worshipers. Mr Ramesh still was not convinced and had told the bomber he would need permission to do so.
Mr Ramesh had thus prevented the bomber from entering the church. He had thereafter, gone outside and detonated his explosives at the main entrance to the church. Mr Ramesh, who has been hailed as a hero, was among those who died in the explosion.
Police had reportedly been able to trace the mother of the bomber in Kaththankudy and she had been able to identify the remains of the man as those of her son.