One suicide bomber went on spending spree before Sri Lanka Easter attacks inspector says

COLOMBO — Insaf Ibrahim, the suicide bomber who carried out the attack on Cinnamon Grand hotel, had spent around Rs. 45 million ($240,000) between January and April of 2019 on National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) operations, CI Ravindra Wimalasiri of CID informed the PCoI probing into Easter Attacks yesterday.

Wimalasiri said that Insaf Ibrahim owned several companies. “During the first four months of 2019, he had spent Rs. 45 million without keeping records. We found that money had been used to promote extremism.”

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Commission played some of Insaf’s voice clips recorded on the eve of the Easter attacks.

In one voice clip, Insaf says he booked tickets to Malaysia for his family so that they can escape the repercussions after the attacks. Insaf also advises his wife to move to Malaysia if she feels Sri Lanka is not a safe place to live with the children.

The witness said Insaf had stored four-voice recordings, in a pen drive, explaining why he had become a Jihadist and suicide bomber, how his wife should manage his properties. He had left a message to his workers as well.

According to CI Wimalasiri Insaf asked his family to forgive him after Easter attacks. “If I regret this path, it will be a serious matter for the whole Muslim community,” Insaf said.

In one of the recordings, he blames All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama for revealing the names of those who had vandalized Buddha statues in Mawanella. “All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama is taking harsh action against real Muslims and we can’t ignore some parts of Islam. This is a bad example.”

Wimalasiri also said that according to their investigations it was Fatima Jiffry, who blew herself at Mahawila Gardens residence in Dematagoda, was the person who had influenced Insaf and Ilham Ibrahim to become Islamic extremists.