Australia warns more terror attacks 'likely' in Sri Lanka

SYDNEY/ LONDON: Australia on Friday warned more terror attacks were "likely" in Sri Lanka, cautioning citizens against visiting the island nation following the Easter Sunday bombing that claimed 253 lives.

"Terrorists are likely to carry out further attacks in Sri Lanka," the foreign ministry warned in its latest travel advice. "Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners."

Canberra advised Australians to "reconsider your need to travel to Sri Lanka", following similar warnings from Britain, the Netherlands and the United States since the April 21 bombings.

The US State Department has warned that terrorist groups "continue plotting" possible attacks, with targets including tourist locations, places of worship and airports.

An Australian woman and her 10-year-old daughter were among those killed in the series of bomb blasts that targeted tourists and Christian worshippers.

Silent streets after dozens of children killed in Sri Lanka attacks

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that intelligence indicated the attack was carried out by a local group, with support from the Islamic State group. "There were links between this group, and support being provided - including the targets of these attacks - by the Daesh network," he said.

Australian counter-terrorism police would assist Sri Lankan authorities with their investigation and are probing suspected attacker Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed's time living in Melbourne.

The Australian Federal Police refused to say whether the 36-year-old was known to them or whether he was radicalised while living in Australia. "As there is an ongoing investigation into the attacks, it would not be appropriate to comment," a spokesperson said.

Tensions remain high in Sri Lanka and a curfew has been put in place across the island, with authorities still in a desperate search for suspects.

Authorities on Thursday revised down the death toll by more than 100 to 253, admitting some of the badly mutilated bodies had been erroneously double-counted.

Britain warns against 'all but essential travel' to Sri Lanka

Britain on Thursday warned against "all but essential travel" to Sri Lanka following the terror attacks on Sunday that claimed 253 lives according to the latest toll.

"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, due to the current evolving security situation following attacks on 21 April 2019," the ministry said on its website.

It added that terrorists "are very likely" to try to carry out further attacks, which "could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners."

"The extent of any continued threat following the 21 April attacks remains unclear," it said.



The Netherlands later also updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka, telling Dutch citizens they should only go there "if necessary".

Eight British nationals and three with Dutch citizenship were among those killed in the deadly Easter bombings that targeted tourists and Christian worshippers.

Over 250,000 Britons visited Sri Lanka in 2018, making it the third-highest source of tourism behind India and China, with the two countries retaining strong links since Sri Lanka became independent of colonial rule in 1948.

The British government told its citizens already in the country to "remain vigilant, keep up to date with developments, follow the advice of local security authorities... keep a low profile and avoid crowded public places."

"All of the attacks on 21 April were carried out either in places of worship or in places where foreign visitors were affected. Any further attacks may be targeted against similar locations," it warned.

A small team of specialist officers from Britain's Metropolitan Police have been deployed to Sri Lanka to support families of victims and repatriate their bodies, the force said on Tuesday.

The police said they were not helping with the investigation "at this stage", but added that "should any request come... then this will be considered accordingly."

Prime Minister May offered help in the investigation to Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe during a telephone call on Tuesday.