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20 arrested in Sri Lanka after weapons found inside local court

Xinhua, March 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

Sri Lankan police on Thursday arrested 20 people over their alleged links to weapons found inside a local court in the capital on Wednesday.

A police spokesperson said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was conducting a probe and a forensic probe was also underway to nab suspects through fingerprints found on the weapons.

Court proceedings were suspended in the Mount Lavinia Magistrates Court on Wednesday after a fully loaded pistol and revolver were found inside the court premises.

The weapons were found during a routine search operation conducted following a fatal shooting incident near the Kalutara Court Complex recently in the island's south.

According to the police, the weapons may have been brought into the court complex in order to carry out an attack.

Seven people, including a criminal underworld leader, were killed when an unidentified group opened fire on a prison bus near the Kalutara Court complex on Monday.

Those killed included two prison officers.

Police said the underworld figure, Anura Udayashantha alias Samayan, who was killed in the shoot out, was believed to be the main target. Endit