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Sri Lanka on Monday said it was invoking emergency powers in the aftermath of devastating bomb attacks on hotels and churches, blamed on militants with foreign links, which killed 290 people and wounded nearly 500.
The emergency law, which gives police and the military extensive powers to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders, would go into effect at midnight local time, the president’s office said.
Police said 87 bomb detonators were found at the city’s main bus station, while an explosive went off near a church when bomb squad officials were trying to defuse it. Scores were killed in the church on Sunday.
The government has blamed a little-known local group, National Thowheed Jamath, although no-one has yet admitted carrying out the bombings. Investigators said seven suicide bombers took part in the attacks while a government spokesman
said an international network was involved.
The emergency law, which gives police and the military extensive powers to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders, would go into effect at midnight local time, the president’s office said.
Police said 87 bomb detonators were found at the city’s main bus station, while an explosive went off near a church when bomb squad officials were trying to defuse it. Scores were killed in the church on Sunday.
The government has blamed a little-known local group, National Thowheed Jamath, although no-one has yet admitted carrying out the bombings. Investigators said seven suicide bombers took part in the attacks while a government spokesman
said an international network was involved.
