A Sri Lankan court last week sentenced 15 men to prison terms exceeding 220 years each for their involvement in the 2019 Easter bombings that targeted luxury hotels and churches across the country. The coordinated attacks killed 267 people and injured nearly 600 others.

The bombings, carried out by nine suicide bombers who died in the blasts, were attributed to two Islamist groups based in Sri Lanka. Authorities said the attacks were deliberately aimed at the country’s minority Christian community and foreign tourists, causing widespread shock and condemnation both domestically and internationally.

The defendants, all members of Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority, were found guilty of conspiring to carry out and assisting in the attacks. The convictions followed a lengthy trial process that culminated in the verdict being announced the previous Tuesday. Along with their lengthy prison sentences, the court ordered that the properties of the defendants be seized.

In addition to those convicted, nine other suspects on trial were acquitted after the court determined that evidence against them was insufficient to prove their involvement. One defendant died before the trial commenced.

The Easter bombings represent one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Sri Lanka’s recent history and have since prompted both domestic and international efforts to enhance security and combat radicalization within the country. Officials have emphasized the need for continued vigilance to prevent similar attacks in the future.