Six children among 15 dead in raids on terror hideouts in Sri Lanka

Colombo: As many as 15 people were killed in a raid conducted by Sri Lankan forces on the hideout of terrorists believed to be involved in the serial bombing across the island nation which killed 253 people. 

Fifteen people including six children died during an operation by Sri Lankan security forces after Easter attacks. Three cornered terrorists blew themselves up killing three women and children inside a terrorist safe house in Kalmunai town which lies 370-km from capital Colombo.

"Three other men, also believed to be suicide bombers, were found dead outside the house," the AFP reported quoting police sources.

The gun battle between the terrorists and the police forces backed by Sri Lankan troops lasted for an hour on Friday and the bodies were recovered early Saturday. 

There have been no casualties among security forces, as per reports. 

Gunmen opened fire on troops when they attempted to storm a house in the town of Kalmunai, military spokesman Sumith Atapattu said. 

"In our retaliatory fire, two gunmen were killed," he said adding that a civilian caught in the



crossfire was also killed.

"We found four bodies of suspected suicide bombers," the police statement on Friday said, also confirming one civilian was killed in the crossfire, while three others escaped with injuries. The body count was later increased as more bodies were found. 

The joint operation between the police and the army was carried out following a tip-off that those responsible for the Easter suicide bombings were holed up in a built-up area of Kalmunai.

The clashes came hours after the security forces raided the location where they believe Islamist radicals recorded a video pledge to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi before carrying out the deadly Easter bombings.

Police said they found an IS flag and uniforms similar to those worn by the eight fighters for the video before they launched Sunday's attacks against three luxury hotels and three churches, killing 253.

"We have found the backdrop the group used to record their video," the police said in an earlier statement on Friday night.

The Islamic State group had released the video two days after the attack.