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On Easter Sunday, Sri Lanka was hit by a series of coordinated terrorst attacks that targeted churches and hotels aross the country.
The Islamic State terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the Sri Lanka terrorist attacks that killed 321 people on Easter Sunday.
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The terrorist group's Amaq News Agency said their organization was behind the attacks but they did not provide any evidence to back its claim. "Security Source to Amaq agency: Those who carried out the attack that targeted the citizens of the coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday were from the fighters of the Islamic State."
However, earlier in the day, Sri Lanka's State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene told parliament that two different local Islamist groups were likely behind the Eastern Sunday explosions, adding that they carried them out in retaliation for the Christchurch, New Zealand terrorist attack.
"The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in Sri Lanka [on Sunday] was in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch," Wijewardene told parliament.
Wijewardene blamed two different local Islamist groups - including the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) - for the coordinated suicide bomb attacks which killed at least 321 people, including 45 children.
The other group named by Wijewardene was Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India (JMI); however, not much is known about them.
The Sri Lankan authorities are still investigating the terrorist attacks as the situation inside the country remains tense.
A memorial service was held this morning to commemorate the victims of these terrible attacks.
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