A hotel in Palamunai, Kattankudy which had been used by the Easter Sunday terror attack ringleader Zahran Hashim to recruit Islamic women to his extremist cause was found following a raid carried out by the Special Task Force (STF) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday (8).
The location had been uncovered based on the information divulged by a suspect previously arrested over the terror attacks. According to the CID, following the information divulged by suspects arrested in connection with the Easter attacks, a large number of training sites used by extremists were identified.
The investigations have confirmed that the hotel in Palamunai, Kattankudy had been used by the extremists to hold lectures with the aim of radicalizing Islamic women. Reports have further confirmed that Zahran Hashim personally conducted lectures at this hotel.
The CID officers recorded statements from the owner of the hotel on Friday (8).
Over 260 people including 45 foreigners were killed and 500 others injured in the well coordinated terror attacks targeting three churches in Negombo, Colombo and Batticaloa, and several tourist hotels in Colombo last year. Investigations are still continuing to apprehend the masterminds of the suicide attacks.