Fresh explosions in Sri Lanka as forces clash with suspected militants, no casualties: reports

ISIS uniforms, ISIS flags, 150 Gelignite sticks, 100,000 ball bearings and a drone camera were also found during the raids by security forces, reported CNN.

Written By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 26 Apr 2019 11:28 PM (IST)

Fresh explosions in Sri Lanka as security forces clash with suspected militants Fresh explosions in Sri Lanka as forces clash with suspected militants, no casualties: reports

Sri Lankan journalists take pictures inside St. Anthony's Shrine in Colombo on April 26, 2019, following a series of bomb blasts targeting churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. - Authorities in Sri Lanka on April 25 lowered the death toll in a spate of Easter bombings by more than 100 to 253, admitting some of the badly mutilated bodies had been erroneously double-counted. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)

At least three explosions reportedly took place in Sri Lanka’s Kalumnai

The explosions took place when security forces clashed with heavily armed suspected militants during raids

ISIS uniforms, ISIS flags, 150 Gelignite sticks, 100,000 ball bearings and a drone camera were recovered in the raids

New Delhi: At least three explosions reportedly took place in Sri Lanka’s Kalumnai, during a shootout between security forces and heavily armed militants believed to be linked to the deadly Easter attacks, reports said on Friday. However, no casualty or damage has been reported so far. Sri Lankan police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara said that gunfire was exchanged and three explosions took place during a raid in the city of Kalumnai carried out to nab suspects of the serial blasts, CNN reported. The gunfire broke out during a security operation in the Sainda-Marudu area of the city of Kalmunai, police said. A cache of explosives used to produce bombs was seized from a house during a raid in Sammanthurai. ISIS uniforms, ISIS flags, 150 Gelignite sticks, 100,000 ball bearings and a drone camera were also found, the report said. Nine suicide bombers carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and three luxury hotels on the Easter Sunday, killing 253 people and injuring over 500 people. The Islamic State claimed the attacks, but the government has blamed local Islamist extremist group called National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ) for the attacks. Hours after the deadly blasts, police launched a manhunt to nab the perpetrators and so far arrested over 70 suspects, including five women. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had on Thursday warned of "sleeper cells" that might launch more attacks in the island nation. President Sirisena had said earlier today, "Information is that around 130-140 ISIS suspects are in the country. Around 70 are arrested, we will arrest them all very soon ending this (terror).” Police said that over 70 suspects, including five women, have been arrested as the Lankan authorities have intensified their search operations with the help of the army.