Sri Lankan court convicts 15 in Easter bombings trial

A Sri Lankan High Court convicted 15 of 24 defendants on Tuesday in the trial over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, acquitting nine others and scheduling sentencing for later the same day. The three-judge Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar found 14 of the accused guilty on all charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possessing firearms and explosives under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. A 15th defendant was convicted on some charges only. The remaining nine were acquitted of charges related to aiding and abetting the suicide bombers. Twenty-five men were originally indicted, but one died in custody before trial. The coordinated attacks on April 21, 2019 struck three churches and three hotels during Easter services and celebrations. Casualty figures vary across reports, with death tolls cited from more than 260 to more than 350, including dozens of foreign nationals, and more than 500 people injured. Investigators have blamed the bombings on a local Islamist extremist group linked to the Islamic State group.