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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Abigail O'Leary

Sri Lanka bombings: Terrorist who studied in UK before attack is named

One of the Sri Lanka attack bombers who studied in Britain has been named as Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed.

He is believed to have studied in the southeast of England at some point between 2006 and 2007.

Later it is understood he did a postgraduate course in Australia, before returning to settle in Sri Lanka.

Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed was one of nine who carried out a series of blasts targeting churches and hotels in the country.

The bombs killed 359 people - including eight Britons - and injured more than 500.

Ruwan Wijewardene, Deputy defence minister in Sri Lanka said during a news conference that all nine of the bombers were well educated and from wealthy families.

Eight of the terrorists have been identified.

A terrorist wearing a backpack can be seen smiling in the lift as he prepares to detonate his bomb (Youtube)

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 Wijewardene said: "We believe that one of the suicide bombers studied in the UK and later did his postgraduate studies in Australia."

Meanwhile a government minister claims top intelligence officials deliberately hid information received before the bombings, and top security officials failed to act on several warnings of possible attacks over Easter.

President Maithripala Sirisena has asked the police chief and defence secretary to quit over intelligence failures.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the blasts, the deadliest attack ever in south Asia and likely the deadliest ever linked to the terror group.

Eight Britons were killed in the attacks, all  in the bombings at the Shangri-La and Cinnamon hotels in Colombo.

Security personnel inspect the interior of St Sebastian's Church in Negombo (AFP/Getty Images)
Police and investigators work at the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo (UPI / Barcroft Images)

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Lawyer Anita Nicholson, 42, her son Alex, 14, and daughter Annabel, 11, were killed when two suicide bombers struck at the Shangri-La hotel as guests ate breakfast.

Husband and father Ben Nicholson, 43, survived the attack and launched a desperate search for his family before being told they were dead.

The family was based in Singapore and was on holiday in Sri Lanka.

Mrs Nicholson worked for mining and metals company Anglo American, while Mr Nicholson is a partner with law firm Kennedys.

GP Sally Bradley, 56, and her husband Bill Harrop, a retired firefighter and also 56, from Manchester, also died in the Cinnamon Grand Hotel bombing.

Bill Harrop, 56, and wife Sally were both killed (Sally Harrop/Facebook)
Ben Nicholson, pictured with his wife Anita and children Alex and Annabel, who all died in the attack (Facebook)

Sri Lanka attacks: Faces of eight Britons killed in hotel suicide bombings 

Mr Harrop's son Gavin was also in Sri Lanka at the time, but was staying at a different hotel. 

Dr Bradley's family said in a statement: "Dr Bradley was a kind, loyal and hardworking woman that lived for adventure.

"She was the personification of joy that life could bring if you approached it with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.

"She dedicated her professional life to public service and was a true daughter of Greater Manchester."

Londoner Matthew Linsey's daughter Amelie, 15, and son Daniel, 19, were killed while having breakfast at the Shangri-La hotel on the final day of their holiday.

Daniel Linsey and his sister both died in one of the Sri Lanka bombings (Facebook)

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Devastated Mr Linsey, 62, has told how he was forced to make the heart-wrenching decision over which injured child to save - only for both to die.

Mr Linsey, who suffered cuts to his face from shrapnel, said he carried his son downstairs from the Table One restaurant - leaving Amelie with another survivor, believing she had suffered less serious injuries - and tried to revive him before he was taken to hospital.

Daniel was pronounced dead in hospital, and the father's grief was compounded when he later found out that Amelie had died of her injuries as well.

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