Suicide killers’ trail embedded in volumes of evidence

Detectives are awaiting reports on DNA, forensics, and explosives analysis to conclude their investigations on the Easter Sunday suicide bombing and the Islamic terror network responsible, a senior police source told the Sunday Times.

"The DNA reports are expected soon, but no one knows when the Government Analyst will give them,’’ said the source.

However, J.M.R. Jayasundara, information officer of the Government Analyst, said the suicide bombing has generated a large volume of evidence and crime scenes, which need to be processed and analysed accurately before a report is submitted. "We are working around the clock to deliver the report as soon as possible,” he claimed.

According to SP Ruwan Gunasekara, police spokesman, 85 individuals are in Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) custody for involvement in the suicide bombing and links to the ISIS-inspired group, which has largely been dismantled.

The inquiries into the assets of bombers and their associates will be a lengthy process, he explained.

"A few more individuals who may have supported this group need to be brought in for questioning,” he said.

Further, the police have identified 17 locations in the island used as 'safe houses' by the group and seven properties suspected to have hosted lectures, extremist indoctrination lessons, and some aspects of training for the members led by Mohamad Cassim Mohomad Zahran.

The (TID) told the Colombo Additional Magistrate, Thanuja Jayatunga, last week, that they were investigating Rs 4 million remitted to Sri Lanka by three Sri Lankans allegedly involved with ISIS terrorists in Syria. Detectives believe the money had been sent by Mohamed Aruz Mohamed Zuhair and the two brothers Mohamed Izak Ahamed and Zurfas Nilam.

The brothers are believed to have been some of the first Sri Lankans to have gone to join the ISIS in Syria.

The TID got a court order to ask the Central Bank to check the authenticity of banknotes amounting to US$ 23,000.

Police said that a software engineer suspected by authorities of having provided technical and logistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers is in custody Aadhil Ameez, a 24-year-old, had been closely linked to the bombers.