How did Hashim's relatives die?
Security forces raided a house in Sainthamaruthu, near Hashim's hometown Kattankudy, on Friday. Gunmen opened fire as troops moved in, police say, and three men set off explosives, killing themselves, six children and three women. Three other people died in gunfire. Image caption: Police sealed off the NTJ's headquarters on Sunday A close family relative confirmed for BBC News that Hashim's father and two brothers died in the raid. Police sources who spoke to Reuters news agency named the three men as Mohamed Hashim, and his sons Zainee Hashim and Rilwan Hashim. All three had been seen in a video circulating on social media calling for all-out war against all non-believers, Reuters adds. In Kattankudy itself, police searched the headquarters of the NTJ (National Thawheed Jamath), which Zahran Hashim had led. Announcing the ban on face coverings, which will begin on Monday, President Maithripala Sirisena said he was taking the emergency measure on national security grounds. The announcement made no specific mention of the niqab and burka - worn by Muslim women - but instead said people's faces should be fully visible so they could be identified.What happened on Easter Sunday?
Sri Lanka has been on high alert since a co-ordinated wave of bombings last Sunday, which also wounded more than 500 people. The bombings targeted churches that were packed full for the Easter holiday, as well as hotels popular with tourists. As well as St Anthony's Shrine, bombers struck churches in Negombo and the eastern city of Batticaloa, and hotels in the capital, Colombo. Most of those killed were Sri Lankan, but dozens of foreign citizens were also among the dead. While the authorities have blamed the NTJ for the attacks, they say they must have had help from a larger network. The Islamic State group, which carried out mass attacks on civilians in Paris and other locations in recent years, has said it was involved, but has not given details.How are the victims being remembered?
Christians in Sri Lanka prayed at home while the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, held a televised Mass, attended by the president and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. He called the attacks an "insult to humanity" in the service, broadcast from a chapel in his residence. "Today during this Mass we are paying attention to last Sunday's tragedy and we try to understand it," he said. "We pray that in this country there will be peace and co-existence and understanding each other without division." Scores of people gathered for the public service outside St Anthony's, where Buddhist monks joined Catholic priests in a show of solidarity with the Christian community. Crowds of people watched the heavily-guarded church from behind a barricade, with some singing hymns and passing rosary beads through their hands. Many lit candles and placed them in a makeshift memorial for the victims. The church's bells tolled at 08:45 (03:15 GMT) - the exact moment a bomber detonated his device one week ago. The hands of its damaged clock tower are still stuck at that time.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Kasoa shrinking penis: Court remands Electrician over false alarm
16 mins -
‘I look forward to working closely with President-elect Faye to enhance Ghanaian-Senegalese relations’ – Akufo-Addo
1 hour -
Girl, 8, only survivor as 45 killed in bus crash in South Africa
2 hours -
Biden to host star-studded NYC fundraiser with Obama and Clinton
2 hours -
GDNR, AAU and others launch Universal Acceptance for local languages in internet domain names
2 hours -
Ogum and Kotoko’s March malaise
4 hours -
BushGang Zee releases new afro dancehall anthem “Accra Stay By Plan”
5 hours -
2 repair vessels dispatched for undersea cable repairs – says NCA’s latest update
5 hours -
Multimedia Group Limited’s Clinton Yeboah shortlisted for 2 International Sports Press Association Awards
5 hours -
Supreme Court upholds High Court verdict on fraudulent sale of property by Senior Police Officer
5 hours -
NHIS Biometric Membership Authentication System limited rollout satisfactory – NHIA Deputy CEO
5 hours -
Yara Ghana donates 1,107 bags of fertilizers to women farmers, farmers with disabilities
5 hours -
Tinubu forms team to find solutions to ailing economy
6 hours -
Jacob Zuma barred from running in South Africa election
6 hours -
Western Cape Education wins national primary school track and field championships
6 hours