Different group behind Easter Sunday attacks: Hakeem

9 September 2020 06:52 am - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) or its leader Zahran Hashim were not directly connected to ISIS and the true mastermind behind the coordinated terror attacks on April 21, 2019 was a completely different group wanting to damage the country, SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem told the PCoI on the Easter Sunday attacks.

He said that whoever was behind the attacks had achieved their ultimate goal, which was to destabilise the country.

"The ISIS banner was only a front. Zaharan and his NTJ group were hired as pawns to carry out the attacks by this particular group. This is a one-off incident," Mr. Hakeem said.

After Mr. Hakeem said the Commissioners asked him to reveal the identity of the group behind the attack.

He said he could do so in the absence of the media.

Earlier, Mr. Hakeem told the PCoI that the SLMC had no political links with NTJ leader Zahran Hashim.

"Various people were trying to concoct stories about I and the SLMC having connections with Zahran, but we never had any contact with Zahran," he said.

The PCoI then asked Mr. Hakeem about visiting an NTJ mosque and a clash with Zahran's brother Rilwan Hashim on August 21, 2015 subsequent to the 2015 general election.

Mr. Hakeem said he was a political leader and was not supposed to know each and every person in the country.

He said he had visited the Kattankudy hospital to check on some of those who were injured in the clash and that he had visited the NTJ mosque after the clash to inspect the damage and Zahran was also present at the time. (Yoshitha Perera)

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Comments - 6

Roshanaly Wednesday, 09 September 2020 11:02 AM

Why does he wanted to reveal the identity of the group without the media presence. The public should know the real culprit. Revealing the truth to the media can solve problems faced by minorities.

ChanakaJ Wednesday, 09 September 2020 12:41 PM

As we saw with the previous government, and Muslim ministers who resigned en masse; it is to "protect their people"!

decentgent Wednesday, 09 September 2020 12:38 PM

He has been accused and battered over the terror attack on 21 Apr, 2019, bcoz he belongs to a minority community. Therefore, revealing the identity of the perpetrators in public would be a danger to his life. Advisable for him to do so to PCol in private so that the latter can proceed with their investigation in that angle.

Jay Jay Wednesday, 09 September 2020 02:13 PM

If he knows the truth, why didn't he reveal the truth when they were in power? He spins these yarns now because he is under microscope. @Rauff Hakeem... stop your lies and tell the truth regardless of who will get hurt.

SAM MUNASINGHE Wednesday, 09 September 2020 03:04 PM

YOU ARE WRONG. THEY WERE FED-UP WITH THE PRESENT WIVES. THEY ALL FOUND A VERY SIMPLE METHOD TO GET RID OF THEM AND ENJOY A NEW LIFE WITH 70 VIRGINS. GOD BLESSES YOU ALL!

Sinna Wednesday, 09 September 2020 04:39 PM

People who blasted themselves in first round ,seem to be economically better off,with families with young children,they won't do such a act, if not it coming from their god or religion connected,they were totally brainwashed set of people(there may be more) so carrying close similarity to ISIS, and their intention is not connected with economical instability, Hakeem seems want to derail,what coming up with PCOI

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Different group behind Easter Sunday attacks: Hakeem

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