Shangri-la suicide bombers had rented out six houses

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court that the two suicide bombers, who blew themselves up at the Shangri-la Hotel in Colombo, had rented out at least six houses in various parts of the country and used them time to time.

Accordingly, Mohamed Cassim Mohamed Zaharan alias ‘Zaharan Haseem’ the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks and Mohamed Ibrahim Ilham Ahamed, who carried out the suicide attacks at the Shangri-la Hotel, had rented out these houses in Mt.Lavinia, Lucky Plaza, Colombo-03, Mahavila Garden, Dematagoda, Kochchikade, Badalkumbura and Bibile.

The CID also informed that Zahran had been identified by the National Thawheed Jamaath members as “Abhu Bakthar’ while the other Ibrahim Ahamed was identified as ‘Abhu Bhara’.

The CID had recorded statements from at least fifteen house owners and produced their statements to the Court.

It was also revealed that seven vehicles- two three-wheelers, two WagonR cars, Vezzel, and two Alto cars had been rented out by these two bombers for their use. (Nimanthi Ranasinghe)