Sri Lanka blasts: Live updates

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188 killed, around 500 injured as blasts hit churches, five-star hotels on Easter in Sri Lanka

Colombo: Suicide bombers were involved in at least two of the eight attacks that struck three churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka Easter Sunday, killing 188 people and injuring around 500 others, shattering a decade of peace in the island nation after the end of the brutal civil war with the LTTE.

The blasts – one of the deadliest in the island nation’s history – targeted St Anthony’s Church in Colombo, St Sebastian’s Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and a church in the eastern town of Batticaloa around 8.45 a.m. (local time) as the Easter Sunday mass were in progress, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Explosions were reported from three five-star hotels – the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury in Colombo Sunday morning.

According to officials, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the restaurant of the Cinnamon Grand hotel.

Harsha de Silva, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, said that there have been “many casualties including foreigners.”

160 killed, over 450 injured as blasts hit three churches, five-star hotels on Easter in Sri Lanka

Colombo: A string of near simultaneous blasts struck three churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing more than 160 people and injuring over 450 others, shattering a decade of peace in the country after the end of the brutal civil war with the LTTE.

The blasts – one of the deadliest in the island nation’s history – targeted St Anthony’s Church in Colombo, St Sebastian’s Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and a church in the eastern town of Batticaloa around 8.45 a.m. (local time) as the Easter Sunday mass were in progress, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Three explosions were reported from the five-star hotels – the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury in Colombo.

Harsha de Silva, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, said that there have been “many casualties including foreigners.”

“45 people died in Colombo where three hotels and a church were hit, while more than 90 were killed in Negombo and 27 in Batticaloa,” hospital sources said, adding that more than 450 people were injured in the blasts.

Soon after the eighth blast, the government imposed curfew with immediate effect.

Gunasekera said that the curfew will be in force indefinitely until further notice.

No group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attacks.

Pope condemns ‘cruel violence’ in Sri Lanka

Pope Francis is denouncing the ‘cruel violence’ of the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka and is praying for all those who are suffering from the bloodshed.

Francis added an appeal at the end of his traditional Easter Sunday blessing to address the massacre which killed more than 130 people.

Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis said: “I want to express my loving closeness to the Christian community, targeted while they were gathered in prayer, and all the victims of such cruel violence.”

He added: “I entrust to the Lord all those who were tragically killed and pray for the injured and all those who are suffering as a result of this dramatic event.”

Lanka orders curfew

The island nation was rocked with eight blasts targeting churches and hotels that killed 160 people across the country. While the toll is expected to rise the nation imposed curfew beginning Sunday night at 6:00 pm (local time) and run until 6:00 am (local time), the defence ministry said.

Meanwhile, security has been intensified around the religious places across the capital.

The government has decided to block all social media platforms in order to prevent incorrect and wrong information being spread. This is only a temporary measure”, a release from Udaya R Seneviratne, Secretary to the President said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe did not reveal the initial details of the investigation into the blast and said police will update later.

“The police will update you on this after investigations”, he told reporters when asked. “The police and the security forces have been instructed to bring culprits to book.

Ministry of External Affairs

Sushma Swaraj strongly condemned the serial blasts in Sri Lanka and called for concerted global action to deal with terrorism.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was standing together with the people and the government of Sri Lanka in this hour of grief.

“We strongly condemn the serial blasts on multiple locations in Sri Lanka today morning in which many people have been killed and injured.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Sri Lanka. We wish speedy recovery to those injured in the attacks,” the statement said.

The ministry said India has always opposed and rejected terrorism in all forms and manifestations and there can be no justification for any kind of terror.

“We call for perpetrators of such ghastly and heinous act and those who provide them support to be brought to justice expeditiously,” the ministry said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also said India was keeping a close watch on the situation.

“Colombo – I am in constant touch with Indian High Commissioner in Colombo. We are keeping a close watch on the situation. @IndiainSL,” Swaraj tweeted.

NOON

Putin condemns Sri Lanka attacks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced a series of attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka as ‘cruel and cynical’.

In a telegram of condolences sent to his Sri Lankan counterpart, the Russian leader said Moscow remains a ‘reliable partner of Sri Lanka in the fight against international terrorism’.

He added that the Russians ‘share the grief of the relatives of those killed and wish a quick recovery to all those who were wounded’ after the Easter Sunday blasts that killed at least 138 people.

Putin voiced confidence that “the perpetrators and the masterminds of such a cruel and cynical crime committed amid the Easter festivities will take the punishment they deserve.”

2 killed in fresh blast in Colombo

A fresh blast hit a hotel in Sri Lankan capital’s southern suburb near the Colombo Zoo, killing two persons, police said, hours after six coordinated explosions rocked churches and luxury hotels.

The seventh blast occurred at a hotel opposite the Zoo, Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. Two people have died and the injured are being shifted to the Colombo South Hospital, he said.

The Zoo was closed for the public after the blast.

Sri Lanka blasts toll rises to 160

Bad news continued to flow in from Sri Lanka as the death toll continuing to increase and going up to 160 when last reports came in. The capital city of Sri Lanka and its surrounding areas were hit by six deadly blasts at about 8.45am. Three churches and the same number of were badly hit as people were offering prayers and celebrating Easter Sunday

156 killed in Sri Lanka serial blasts

Colombo: The toll in the Sri Lanka serial blasts rose to 156 among whom 35 were foreigners. Hundreds of others have been injured in the explosions that took place in three churches and three hotels in and around the Sri Lankan capital, police sources said. Among the dead are American, British and Dutch citizens

No place for barbarism in region: Modi

Meanwhile condemning the serial blasts in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday there is no place for barbarism in the region. He also said that India stands in solidarity with the people of the island nation. “Strongly condemn the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka. There is no place for such barbarism in our region,” Modi tweeted. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured,” Modi said

Catholic Church condemns attack on Christians in Sri Lanka

Jerusalem: The Catholic Church in the Holy Land has voiced support for Sri Lanka’s Christians and condemned Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels there that so far have led to 156 deaths.

A statement issued in Jerusalem said the blasts were particularly sad as they ‘came while Christians celebrate Easter’. “We pray for the souls of the victims and ask for speedy recovery of the injured, and ask God to inspire the terrorists to repent of their killing and intimidation,” the statement said. “We also express our solidarity with Sri Lanka and all its inhabitants in their various religious and ethnic backgrounds,” it added.

SL police chief had warned of suicide bomb attacks

Sri Lanka’s police chief had put out a nationwide alert 10 days before Sunday’s bomb attacks in the country that suicide bombers planned to hit ‘prominent churches’, according to the warning seen by AFP. Police chief Pujuth Jayasundara sent an intelligence warning to top officers on April 11 setting out the threat.

“A foreign intelligence agency has reported that the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama’ath) is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches as well as the Indian high commission in Colombo,” the alert had stated. The NTJ is a radical Muslim group in Sri Lanka that came to notice last year when it was linked to the vandalization of Buddhist statues.

Number of deaths in Sri Lanka serial blasts rise to 140

Colombo: Six near simultaneous explosions rocked three churches and three hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday morning, killing more than 140 people and injuring over 400 others, in one of the deadliest blasts in the island nation’s history. Hospital sources said that more than 140 have been killed in the blasts.

“Forty five people died in Colombo where three hotels and a church were hit, while 68 were killed in Negombo and 27 in Batticaloa,” the sources stated.

The Colombo National Hospital spokesperson, Dr Samindi Samarakoon, said more than 300 people have been admitted with injuries while Dr Kalanidhi Ganeshalingam, the spokesperson for the Batticaloa hospital, said over 100 have been admitted with injuries from St Michael’s Church explosion.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe termed the blasts as ‘cowardly attacks’ and said his government was working to ‘contain the situation’. “I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong… The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation,” Wickremesinghe tweeted.

Death toll increases to 137 including 9 foreigners

Colombo: The death toll in the Sri Lanka serial blasts has reached 137 which include nine foreigners. Efforts are on to ascertain the identity of the foreigners. The blasts hit three five-star hotels and a church in this city. Two other churches were targeted outside Colombo as prayers for Easter Mass was going on.

129 dead, over 400 injured as serial blasts rock Sri Lanka, toll expected to rise

Six near simultaneous explosions rocked three churches and three hotels frequented by tourists in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday morning, killing at least 129 people and injuring over 400 others, in one of the deadliest blasts in the island nation’s history, officials said.

The blasts targeted St Anthony’s Church in Colombo, St Sebastian’s Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa around 8.45am (local time) as the Easter Sunday mass were in progress, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told reporters.

Three explosions were reported from the five-star hotels – the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury. Foreigners and locals who were injured in hotel blasts were admitted to the Colombo General Hospital.

Hospital sources said that 129 have been killed so far in the blasts. “Forty two people died in Colombo, 60 in Negombo and 27 in Batticaloa,” they said.

The Colombo National Hospital spokesperson, Dr Samindi Samarakoon, said more than 300 people have been admitted with injuries. The blast left 73 injured in Batticaloa, officials said. “Many casualties include foreigners,” said Harsha de Silva, the Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution.

No group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attacks. However, most of the deadly attacks in the past in Sri Lanka were carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which ran a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

President Maithripala Sirisena has appealed for calm. “I have been shocked by this totally unexpected incident. The security forces have been asked to take all action necessary,” Sirisena said.

The Sri Lankan government has summoned an emergency meeting. All necessary emergency steps have been taken by the government, a minister said, adding that an official statement will be issued soon.

“Horrible scenes. I saw many body parts strewn all over. Emergency crews are at all locations in full force. We, at 1990 also have close to 20 units at the various locations. We took multiple casualties to hospital. Hopefully saved many lives,” Harsha de Silva said.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo said that it was closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka. “We are closely monitoring the situation. Indian citizens in need of assistance or help and for seeking clarification may call the following numbers : +94777903082 +94112422788 +94112422789,” the High Commission tweeted.

EASTER MORNING

Death toll rises to 129 in Sri Lanka blasts

Colombo: The death toll in the Sri Lanka blasts incident rose to 129 with many of the critically injured succumbing to their injuries. The toll is expected to rise further. The blasts hit several high-end hotels and a church in Colombo, while two other churches were targeted outside Colombo during Easter Mass, Sri Lanka police informed. The nature of the explosions, which happened around 8.45am is still not clear. No group has taken responsibility for it.

49 dead, over 300 injured as six blasts rock Sri Lanka 

Multiple blasts hit churches and hotels in Sri Lanka leaving over 49 people dead and over 300 injured Sunday police said. Among the casualties are several foreigners also.  Three churches in Kochchikade, Katana, and Batticaloa and three five-star hotels in this capital city were hit by the blasts. The toll may rise as some of the injured are very critical.

The blasts first occurred in two churches in Sri Lanka as worshippers attended Easter services, officials and police said. The blasts occurred at around 8.45 a.m. (local time) as the Easter Sunday masses were in progress, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera informed.

One of the blasts hit St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade locality of the Sri Lankan capital.

The Colombo National Hospital said at least 80 people have been admitted with injuries. But there is every possibility of casualties as some of the injured are critical. “A bomb attack to our church, please come and help,” read a facebook post from St Sebasitian’s Church at Katuwapitiutya, in the Western coastal town of Negombo.

No organisation till now has taken responsibility for the blasts, but terror links cannot be ruled out.

List of the biggest terror attacks in the last decade

2010 – Jnaneswari Express train derailment, India

Deaths: 148

Responsibie: Maoists/People’s Committee against Police Atrocities

2011 – Suicide bombings in Iraq

Deaths: 137

Responsible: ISIS

2012 – 20 January Nigeria attacks

Deaths: 185

Responsible:  Boko Haram

2013 – Peshawar church attack, Pakistan

Deaths: 127

Responsible: Jundallah, Tehrik-i-Taliban

2014 – Camp Speicher Massacre, Iraq

Deaths: 1,566

Responsible: ISIS

2015 – Kobani Massacre, Syria

Deaths: 258-270

Responsible: ISIS

2016 – Karrada Bombing, Iraq

Deaths: 341

Responsible: ISIS

2017 – 14 October Mogadishu bombings, Somalia

Deaths: 587

Responsible: Al-Shabaab

2018 – As-Suwayda Attacks, Syria

Deaths: 318

Responsible: ISIS

2019 – Fulani herders Massacre, Mali

Deaths: 160

Responsible: Dozo and Dogon militia