Sri Lanka attacks: Who are National Thowheed Jamath?
Some reports have also linked the NTJ to a spate of vandalism last December that targeted Buddhist temples in Mawanella, central Sri Lanka. Then, they attacked the faces of Buddha statues that were on display outside the temples.
But they are an extremist fringe group within an already small religious minority - only 9.7% of Sri Lanka's population of about 21 million are Muslim. Their social media presence is sparse, too. Although they have a Facebook page, it is only updated every few weeks or so. Their Twitter page hasn't been updated since March 2018.
The group's website is also offline - although it's not clear if it was taken down before or after Sunday's attacks.Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told reporters in Colombo on Monday that there had been"several warnings from foreign intelligence agencies about the impending attacks".Sri Lankan telecommunications minister, Harin Fernando, tweeted a document that was reportedly sent by Sri Lanka's police chief earlier this month.
In that, the NTJ are explicitly named - as well as a warning that the group was planning to attack churches and the Indian High Commission.Some intelligence officers were aware of this incidence. Therefore there was a delay in action. What my father heard was also from an intelligence officer. Serious action need to be taken as to why this warning was ignored. I was in Badulla last night
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