Colombo - Sri Lankan intelligence
officials were tipped off about an imminent attack by Islamist
militants hours before a series of suicide bombings killed more
than 300 people on Easter Sunday, three sources with direct
knowledge of the matter said.
Three churches and four hotels were hit by suicide bombers
on Sunday morning, killing 321 people and wounding 500, sending
shockwaves through an island state that has been relatively
peaceful since a civil war ended a decade ago.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks on
Tuesday, without providing evidence of its involvement.
Indian intelligence officers contacted their Sri Lankan
counterparts two hours before the first attack to warn of a
specific threat on churches, one Sri Lankan defence source and
an Indian government source said.
Another Sri Lankan defence source said a warning came "hours
before" the first strike.
One of the Sri Lankan sources said a warning was also sent
by the Indians on Saturday night. The Indian government source
said similar messages had been given to Sri Lankan intelligence
agents on April 4 and April 20.
Sri Lanka's presidency and the Indian foreign ministry both
did not respond to requests for comment.