(Detroit News)
Emily Schmall and Jon Gambrell April 26, 2019 11:54 a.m.
Colombo, Sri Lanka – Catholic churches in Sri Lanka canceled all Sunday Masses until further notice over fears of more attacks from Islamic State-linked extremists, and the military said its soldiers in the eastern part of the country exchanged gunfire Friday night with suspects believed linked to the Easter bombings.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith told journalists that church officials had seen a leaked security document describing Catholic churches and other denominations as major targets for attackers. Ranjith, who is archbishop of Colombo, also asked the faithful to stay home for their own safety.
“We don’t want repetitions,” Ranjith said in canceling the services.
The cardinal’s comments come after the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka warned the public to stay away from places of worship over the weekend, a stark alert underlining that authorities believe that members of the group remain at large.
The group’s leader, Mohamed Zahran, killed himself in a suicide bombing at the Shangri-La hotel, one of six hotels and churches targeted in the attacks that killed at least 250 people on Sunday, police said.
Police also said they had arrested the second in command of the group, known as National Towheed Jamaat.
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