ISIS funder coordinated the Sri Lanka attack from London

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Anita Mathur

Jihadist attack in Sri Lanka, which had already killed over 215 people, where dozens are still critically injured resembles the pattern of attack of notorious Islamic Stats (ISIS). The first wave of attacks struck at the heart of the country’s minority Christian community on Sunday morning, during busy Easter services at churches in the cities of Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa. Three churches and three hotels were targeted at the same with almost simultaneous blasts. Additional blasts ripped through three high-end hotels, the Shangri La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury, all in capital city Colombo.

Describing the Sri Lanka attack, eminent counter-terrorism expert Robert Spencer in an article wrote, “

“‘It was 8:30 am and it was busy. It was families,’ the manager told AFP. ‘He came up to the top of the queue and set off the blast,’ he added.”

He wanted to maximize the carnage; his god promised Paradise for those who “kill and are killed” for him (Qur’an 9:111), so he might have thought he could increase the reward he would receive by killing as many people as possible.

“Eight blasts at churches, hotels across Sri Lanka kill at least 207; 8 arrested | Live updates,” The Hindu, April 21, 2019:

…The suicide bomber waited patiently in a queue for the Easter Sunday breakfast buffet at Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon Grand hotel before setting off explosives strapped to his back.

Carrying a plate, the man, who had registered at the hotel the night before as Mohamed Azzam Mohamed, was just about to be served when he set off his devastating strike in the packed restaurant, a manager at the Sri Lankan hotel said.

“There was utter chaos,” said the manager, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity as he is not allowed to speak for the company.

The Taprobane restaurant at the hotel was having one of its busiest days of the year for the Easter holiday weekend.

“It was 8:30 am and it was busy. It was families,” the manager told AFP.

“He came up to the top of the queue and set off the blast,” he added”.

Vicky Nanjappa in OneIndia wrote, “Sri Lanka has seen a spike in Jihadi activity since 2017,” by Vicky Nanjappa, OneIndia, April 21, 2019:

The problem of the Islamic State has been rampant in Sri Lanka since 2016.

That year the Parliament was told that 32 Muslims from elite families had joined the ISIS.

The following year, scores of Sri Lankan ISIS terrorists had returned from Syria, following which there was a spike in Jihadi activity.

It may also be recalled that a postgraduate student from Sri Lanka, Mohammad Nizamdeen was charged with ISIS affiliated terror related offence in Australia. He was accused of being part of a plot to assassinate an Australian politician. Incidentally he is the nephew of MP Faiszer Musthapha, a cabinet minister in the Sri Lankan government

In January this year authorities in Sri Lanka seized a huge cache of explosives at Wanathawilluwa. It was said that this belonged to a module of the ISIS, who were attempting major blasts at historic Buddhist monuments. An imam and a maulvi were also arrested in connection with the incident.

On April 11, the police got an input that terrorists would target 11 Churches in the country. It warned that Catholics would be the target of the attack. Moreover the serial bombings that rocked Colombo bear the signature of the Islamic State. The nation has been under the radar of the Islamic State for nearly three years now.

It may be recalled that in 2016 there were reports that 32 elite Muslims had joined the Islamic State. The ISIS had warned that it would target the Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

Further looking at the pattern of the blast and also the fact that the attack was targeted only at the Catholics and foreigners, it suggests that the outfit has a hand behind this attack.

Initial reports that emerged after bomb blasts ripped Colombo suggest that a suicide bomber could have been involved.

One of the prime reasons for the casualty being so high could be due to the fact that a suicide bomber was involved. The attacks at the Shangri La hotel and the Batticalao Church appear to be the handiwork of a suicide bomber.

The initial impressions also indicate that RDX could have been used in the attack and hence the impact was so high. Over 100 people have been killed in the blasts that took place in Sri Lanka today. Reports suggest that the suicide bombers have been identified as Zahran Hashim and Abu Mohammad.

An Intelligence Bureau official in India tells OneIndia that the target was clearly the Catholics”.

ISIS claims responsibility:

Colombo bombings, ISIS suggests revenge for strikes on Muslims.

The Islamic State supporters have indicated that the Colombo bombings were in retaliation for strikes on Mosques.

SITE Intel group said that the ISIS supporters portrayed the attack as revenge for strikes on mosques and Muslims in general.

It may be recalled that in 2016 there were reports that 32 elite Muslims had joined the Islamic State.

The ISIS had warned that it would target the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Further looking at the pattern of the blast and also the fact that the attack was targeted only at the Catholics and foreigners, it suggests that the outfit has a hand behind this attack.

Initial reports that emerged after bomb blasts ripped Colombo suggest that a suicide bomber could have been involved”.

Therese May condemns the attack:

British Prime Minister Theresa May in a Tweet said, “The acts of violence against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka are truly appalling, and my deepest sympathy go out to all of those affected at this tragic time.

“We must stand together to make sure that no one should ever have to practice their faith in fear”.

Commenting to Theresa May’s statement, counter-terrorism expert Robert Spence said, “Britain’s Prime Minister can’t name the victims — Christians — for fear of offending the Muslim communities in the UK whose votes she desperately needs. For the same reason, she most certainly cannot mention the fact that many of the victims were celebrating Easter, or name the attackers, or explain the basis upon which they chose their targets.

“Theresa May epitomizes the cowardice and pusillanimity of modern Western leaders. And that is why her country, and other nations of the West, are in such a precarious state”.

Britain gives shelter to ISIS funder:

Md. Shahid Uddin Khan (Army No: BA002428, Course: 8-BMA, Commission Date: 10-06-1983), who along with his wife Farjana Anjum and daughters had smuggled out millions of dollars from Bangladesh and invested in various business ventures in United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom.

In 2009, he invested two million pounds in the United Kingdom in exchange of obtaining immigrant status under Visa Tier 1, vide VAF No. 511702. Later the family had laundered an unknown amount of money and brought that into the United Kingdom.

Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Bangladesh Police, based on secret information, raided House No. 184, Road No. 2, Baridhara DOHS in Dhaka, Bangladesh on January 17, 2019. This house is owned by Md. Shahid Uddin Khan and was allegedly used as a warehouse for arms, explosives and propaganda materials of Islamic State (ISIS). During the raid, large volume of weapons, detonator, counterfeit Bangladesh currency notes and jihadist materials of ISIS were recovered by the CTTC unit.

Following this recovery, three separate cases against ISIS-funder Md. Shahid Uddin Khan, his wife Farjana Anjum, daughters and other accomplices were lodged. The cases are: Cantonment PS, Case no 10, Section-6(2)/7/11/12 of Anti Terrorism Act 2009 (amendment 2013); Cantonment PS,  Case no 11, Section-25-A,  Special Power Act 1974; and Cantonment PS, Case no 12, Section-19-A of Arms Act 1878.

Sitting in the United Kingdom, Md. Shahid Uddin Khan, his wife and daughters have formed an organization named ‘Astha’ through which they are persistently trying to mobilize civilians and military personnel in Bangladesh with the ulterior motive of unseating the government through a coup. Moreover, according to newspaper reports, this family is involved in terror-financing.

It was earlier reported in the media that Md. Shahid Uddin Khan and his gang were plotting terrorist attacks in a number of South Asian nations. Khans have hands behind the Sri Lanka attacks.

Commenting on it, internationally known counter-militancy experts and anti-Jihadist journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury said, “Unfortunately for years, United Kingdom has turned into the epicenter of anti-Semitism and radical Islam. ISIS funder Shahid Uddin Khan, his wife Farjana Anjum and their daughters already have smuggled-out millions of dollars from Bangladesh and had invested in Britain and United Arab Emirates. Most unfortunately, British authorities did not ever feel the necessity of investigating the clear case of money laundering of this family. Shahid Uddin Khan, his wife Farjana Anjum and their daughters are directly involved into serious crimes, jihadist and criminal activities. Despite the fact of this matter being repeatedly brought to the attention of British authorities, there has never been any investigation. I would like to call upon Prime Minister Theresa May and her government as well as members of the UK House of Lords and House of Commons to confiscated the illegal wealth of Shahid Uddin Khan and his family and deport this family without further delay. This is not only essential for Britain’s national security but also is crucial for ensuring global peace”.

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