• Zahran had promoted Wahhabism and extremism prior to causing the mayhem

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya 

A total number of 15 women have been attending lessons on extremism conducted by Easter Sunday suicide attack linchpin Zahran Hashim in 2018 and that five of them had been killed and the remaining women were either remanded or detained at the moment, police revealed. 

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) on Friday arrested 24-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim Saida from Mawanella for attending the lessons on extremism. 

Her father and two brothers were arrested earlier in connection with the suicide attack and vandalising Buddha status in Mawanella. She is being detained at the moment. 

It came to light that the brainwashing lessons had been conducted by Zahran in Kattankudy area in December 2018, he said. 

The CID has launched a probe after it came to light that Zahran had promoted Wahabism and extremism prior to causing the mayhem. 

“The female suspect who is being interrogated by the TID said that 15 women along with her had attended the lessons.