Colombo: Post six days when ISIS suicide bombers trembled entire Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan army is on high alert. In a fierce cross firing between Sir Lankan army and suspected terrorists of ISIS fifteen people were killed including six children.
The shootout took place on Friday evening in Sainthamaruthu in Ampara, to the south of the town of Batticaloa, site of one of the Easter Sunday blasts at three churches and four luxury hotels.
According to police spokesman, three suspected suicide bombers were among the 15 dead after the shootout. However, one child who was shot during the encounter has been admitted to hospital.
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Sumith Atapattu, military spokesman, said in a statement that as troops headed towards the safe house three explosions were set off and gunfire began.
"Troops retaliated and raided the safe house where a large cache of explosives had been stored," Atapattu said in a statement.
According to Atapattu, the militants were suspected members of the domestic Islamist group National Towheed Jama'at (NTJ), which has been blamed for last Sunday attacks. Bomb-making materials, dozens of gelignite sticks and thousands of metal balls were found in a search of a separate house in the same area.
The US embassy in Sri Lanka has already warned its American citizens to skip visiting religious places like church over the weekend after authorities reported there could be more attacks targeting religious Centre.