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Sayurusara 2019 December 75
speeches had been more and more openly extreme The Islamic State, after losing all its territory
and supportive of the Islamic State. In January 2017, in Syria and Iraq, viewed the Sri Lanka attacks as
Zahran had rented out a public space in Kattankudy a significant breakthrough in its attempts to reset
and gaven a controversial speech fully in support of the narrative about its decline. On 29th April 2019,
the Islamic State and urging Sri Lankan Muslims to the Islamic State released a video of Abu Bakr al-
support the Islamic State in Syria. Baghdadi in which he presented the Easter attacks
as vengeance for the Islamic State’s March 2019
On 26th December 2018, several youth on defeat in Baghuz and thanked the attackers for their
motorcycles damaged a few Buddha statues in and pledge of allegiance.
around Mawanella. Two of the alleged ring leaders,
the brothers Mohammad Sadik Abdul-haq and Conclusion
Mohammad Shaheed Abdul-haq, managed to steer Every day since the American-led military
clear of the law enforcement dragnet for a time. They
would eventually be arrested hiding in their uncle’s coalition touted the end of the caliphate, the group’s
shoe store a week after the Easter bombings. Their media operatives have issued claims of responsibility
father, Rasheed Mohamed Ibrahim had been arrested for attacks around the world. American intelligence
on January 22, 2019, on suspicion of involvement. officials have so far characterized the Sri Lanka
It was suggested that the individuals who carried attacks as having been inspired by the Islamic State,
out the desecration of the Buddha statues were as opposed to having been executed directly by the
group. But analysts say there may be some middle
radicalized by Zahran Hashim11 .
ground. A video released by ISIS showing members
Easter Sunday attacks of National Thowheeth Jama’ath pledging fealty to
Mr. al-Baghdadi, shows at the least that the group had
Over the course of Easter Sunday 2019, eight a means of communicating with core ISIS operatives
bombs went off in popular hotels and historical and was able to transmit video to them.
churches across Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka;
other coastal cities in the west; and towns in the east The attack was among the deadliest ever
of the country, killing hundreds. The Islamic State- carried out by Islamic State acolytes outside Iraq
claimed attack stunned terrorism analysts because and Syria. That the group responsible for it existed
there had been no known history of jihadi violence in so far below the radar of international intelligence
the country. There were indications, that individuals agencies troubles counterterrorism officials, who
associated with the National Tawheed Jamaat were wonder how many similar groups are active or
becoming increasingly supportive of the Islamic State operating surreptitiously in North Africa, South Asia
and mobilizing to violence that was missed by local and elsewhere.
law enforcement. The Sri Lanka attacks may be early
evidence that the Islamic State is taking an important Counterterrorism officials has warned
and renewed interest in South Asia, following losses that the Sri Lanka bombings may be a harbinger
in Syria and Iraq12. for a new phase of ISIS attacks. “Former ISIS
fighters and sympathizers are rebranding
More than 250 were killed in the Easter themselves ideologically with other terrorists,” said
attacks, making it one of the deadliest terrorist Christopher P. Costa, who was a senior director for
atrocities ever anywhere. Two days later, the Islamic counterterrorism on the National Security Council
State claimed the attacks via its Amaq news agency, under the Trump administration. “It’s not just a
stating the attackers were “Islamic State fighters” question of the loss of a physical caliphate so much
and had “targeted citizens of coalition states and as considering exactly what ISIS will look like as it
Christians in Sri Lanka.”13 Among the attackers, who tries to reconstitute itself.”14
were all Sri Lankan and who communicated via an
encrypted messenger service, was the cell’s suspected Recommendations
leader, Zahran Hashim, a 34-year-old radical preacher
who, was one of two suicide bombers who blew Based on the above study following
recommendations are proposed to counter or
themselves up at the Shangri-La hotel.
mitigate the threat posed by ISIS both internationally
13. Loccit.
14. The New York Times, 25th April 2019.
speeches had been more and more openly extreme The Islamic State, after losing all its territory
and supportive of the Islamic State. In January 2017, in Syria and Iraq, viewed the Sri Lanka attacks as
Zahran had rented out a public space in Kattankudy a significant breakthrough in its attempts to reset
and gaven a controversial speech fully in support of the narrative about its decline. On 29th April 2019,
the Islamic State and urging Sri Lankan Muslims to the Islamic State released a video of Abu Bakr al-
support the Islamic State in Syria. Baghdadi in which he presented the Easter attacks
as vengeance for the Islamic State’s March 2019
On 26th December 2018, several youth on defeat in Baghuz and thanked the attackers for their
motorcycles damaged a few Buddha statues in and pledge of allegiance.
around Mawanella. Two of the alleged ring leaders,
the brothers Mohammad Sadik Abdul-haq and Conclusion
Mohammad Shaheed Abdul-haq, managed to steer Every day since the American-led military
clear of the law enforcement dragnet for a time. They
would eventually be arrested hiding in their uncle’s coalition touted the end of the caliphate, the group’s
shoe store a week after the Easter bombings. Their media operatives have issued claims of responsibility
father, Rasheed Mohamed Ibrahim had been arrested for attacks around the world. American intelligence
on January 22, 2019, on suspicion of involvement. officials have so far characterized the Sri Lanka
It was suggested that the individuals who carried attacks as having been inspired by the Islamic State,
out the desecration of the Buddha statues were as opposed to having been executed directly by the
group. But analysts say there may be some middle
radicalized by Zahran Hashim11 .
ground. A video released by ISIS showing members
Easter Sunday attacks of National Thowheeth Jama’ath pledging fealty to
Mr. al-Baghdadi, shows at the least that the group had
Over the course of Easter Sunday 2019, eight a means of communicating with core ISIS operatives
bombs went off in popular hotels and historical and was able to transmit video to them.
churches across Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka;
other coastal cities in the west; and towns in the east The attack was among the deadliest ever
of the country, killing hundreds. The Islamic State- carried out by Islamic State acolytes outside Iraq
claimed attack stunned terrorism analysts because and Syria. That the group responsible for it existed
there had been no known history of jihadi violence in so far below the radar of international intelligence
the country. There were indications, that individuals agencies troubles counterterrorism officials, who
associated with the National Tawheed Jamaat were wonder how many similar groups are active or
becoming increasingly supportive of the Islamic State operating surreptitiously in North Africa, South Asia
and mobilizing to violence that was missed by local and elsewhere.
law enforcement. The Sri Lanka attacks may be early
evidence that the Islamic State is taking an important Counterterrorism officials has warned
and renewed interest in South Asia, following losses that the Sri Lanka bombings may be a harbinger
in Syria and Iraq12. for a new phase of ISIS attacks. “Former ISIS
fighters and sympathizers are rebranding
More than 250 were killed in the Easter themselves ideologically with other terrorists,” said
attacks, making it one of the deadliest terrorist Christopher P. Costa, who was a senior director for
atrocities ever anywhere. Two days later, the Islamic counterterrorism on the National Security Council
State claimed the attacks via its Amaq news agency, under the Trump administration. “It’s not just a
stating the attackers were “Islamic State fighters” question of the loss of a physical caliphate so much
and had “targeted citizens of coalition states and as considering exactly what ISIS will look like as it
Christians in Sri Lanka.”13 Among the attackers, who tries to reconstitute itself.”14
were all Sri Lankan and who communicated via an
encrypted messenger service, was the cell’s suspected Recommendations
leader, Zahran Hashim, a 34-year-old radical preacher
who, was one of two suicide bombers who blew Based on the above study following
recommendations are proposed to counter or
themselves up at the Shangri-La hotel.
mitigate the threat posed by ISIS both internationally
13. Loccit.
14. The New York Times, 25th April 2019.
