Shooting Breaks Out in Eastern Sri Lankan Town During Police Raid

April 26, 2019
| Report Focus News

Shooting erupted between security forces and a group of men in eastern Sri Lanka during a search and cordon operation related to the Easter Sunday attacks, a military spokesman said.

The raid took place in the town of Ampara Sainthamaruthu near Batticaloa. The spokesman said there was an explosion in the area and when soldiers went to investigate they were fired upon. No details of casualties were immediately available.

Police said they found an IS flag and uniforms similar to those worn by the eight fighters before they launched Sunday’s attacks against three luxury hotels and three churches, killing 253.

During a separate search, security forces and military came under fire however there were no reports of injuries, police said.

“We have found the backdrop the group used to record their video,” the police said in a statement.

The IS had released the video two days after the attack.

Police showed the clothing and the flag on national television, as well as some 150 sticks of dynamite and about 100,000 ball bearings seized from the house.

Since the suicide bombings on churches and hotels in which more than 250 people were killed, police have been conducting raids across the country to find more details about the perpetrators and their supporters. Islamic State has claimed responsibility.(Report Focus News with REUTERS and AFP)