Sri Lanka issues landmark Easter attack trial verdict

Colombo (AFP) — The trial of 24 men accused of plotting the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, the deadliest attack against civilians in Sri Lanka’s history, is set to conclude on Tuesday.

To recall, suicide bombers struck three luxury hotels and three churches on 21 April 2019, killing 279 people, including 45 foreigners. Investigators blamed the attack on a homegrown Islamist extremist group.

One of 25 men indicted over alleged involvement in the attack — all from Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority — has died in custody, leaving 24 defendants to stand trial.

The 24 accused, handcuffed in pairs, were brought in two prison buses to the High Court of Colombo before proceedings began at 9:30 a.m. (0400 GMT).

“After so many years, we think we can finally expect justice,” Catholic priest Jude Fernando said, as dozens of victims’ relatives waited outside the court.

Police commandos from the Special Task Force were deployed as part of tight security measures ahead of the verdict, the first over direct involvement in the attack.

“Considering the interest in this case, we are making special security arrangements,” police said in a statement.

A court official said the verdict was likely to be announced later on Tuesday because the judges had to go through a large amount of paperwork.

The trial has already made legal history in Sri Lanka, with prosecutors filing 23,270 charges, the most ever brought in a single case.

The charges include murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism and possessing firearms and explosives under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Prosecutors have identified Mohamed Naufar as the alleged ringleader who provided support to the eight-member suicide squad that carried out the coordinated bombings.

All defendants have denied involvement.