As per a report by the news agency AFP, an initial probe in the serial bomb attacks which killed over 300 people in Sri Lanka has revealed that it was ‘retaliation’ for the Christchurch attack in New Zealand, says Sri Lanka’s deputy Defence Minister. “The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in Sri Lanka (on Sunday) was in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch,” AFP quoted state minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardene of having told the parliament.
As per reports, an intelligence memo was given to the government weeks before the attack where one member of the terrorist group identified as having perpetrated the bombings had started updating his social media accounts “with extremist content” following the New Zealand shootings.
On March 15, in a dastardly shooting attack, nearly 50 people were killed and several others were injured in two New Zealand mosques after a terrorist had opened fire. Following the mass shootings, women across New Zealand wore hijabs and scarves and men wore scarves across their shoulders to show solidarity with the Muslim community.
Even New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden wore a black ‘Hijab‘ when meeting members of the Muslim community after the shootings. Following that, Radio and TV stations across New Zealand has decided to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer. Journalists and TV anchors also wore ‘Hijab’ or scarfs to express their solidarity with Muslims in the country.