Sri Lanka: 15 people found dead after police raid

By Emel Oz Gozellik

COLOMBO (AA) - Fifteen people were killed on Saturday after a gun battle between police and militants on the east coast of Sri Lanka, local media reported, citing a police spokesperson.

The bodies of 15 people, including six children, have been found following a police raid on a suspected safe house in the eastern city of Sainthamaruthu.

The militants blew themselves up and three of them were wounded in the attack, according to the security forces.

The militants were also believed to be linked with last week's Easter bombings.

On Easter Sunday, a total of eight explosions targeted eight different locations in and outside Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

The bombings hit churches in Kochchikade, Negombo and Batticaloa cities, as well as Kingsbury, Cinnamon Grand and Shangri La hotels in Colombo. At least 253 people were killed and 500 people were injured in the attacks.

Most of the victims were Sri Lankans, although authorities have said at least 38 foreigners were also killed. They included two Turkish nationals, besides tourists from Britain, U.S, Australia, India, China, Denmark, Netherlands and Portugal.

Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar