Sri Lanka blames local jihadist group for blasts, admits ignored warnings

Sri Lanka has blamed local jihadist group National Thowheed Jamath for one of Asia’s deadliest terrorist attacks in years, admitting there had been several warnings from foreign intelligence agencies about the impending violence.

The death toll rose to 290 in the coordinated blasts on Easter Sunday at churches and luxury hotels, which the government said were carried out by seven suicide bombers. The Easter Sunday attacks targeted foreign tourists and Christians: marking a shift from the violence that fueled a three-decade civil war on the Indian Ocean island.

"There had been several warnings from foreign intelligence agencies about the impending attacks," Sri