June 30, Colombo (LNW): A man previously flagged for suspected involvement in extremist activities has been taken into custody after he was found recording video near a high-profile religious gathering in Colombo.
The individual, identified as 27-year-old Mohamed Shafrool, also known by the alias “Podi Zaharan”, was arrested in the vicinity of a mosque in Bambalapitiya where a major spiritual convention of the Dawoodi Bohra community is presently underway.
The arrest was made on Friday by officers from the Bambalapitiya police division following reports of a person behaving suspiciously near the convention site.
Shafrool, reportedly a resident of Kandy, was observed recording video footage close to the area where the event was being held, prompting swift action from law enforcement officials stationed nearby.
Authorities have confirmed that the suspect has a prior history with the security services. He had previously been detained in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, a series of coordinated attacks that deeply shook the nation and led to extensive counterterrorism operations across the island.
