On the occasion of Easter Sunday a tragic incident took place where at least 207 people were killed and hundreds other wounded in eight blasts that shook churches and hotels in and just outside Sri Lanka’s capital, officials said, diving the South Asian island nation into the most horrible chaos it has seen since a bloody civil war concluded a decade in the past. Sri Lanka Top Cop Had Warned Of Suicide Attack On Indian Embassy Too
HIGHLIGHTS
- Day after the serial blasts, another bomb was defused in Colombo
- 24 people have been arrested so far in connection with the blasts
- Over 290 people have died so far in the blasts while over 500 are injured
Sri Lanka blasts live updates
I’m shocked to hear that a 7-member team of JDS workers from Karnataka, who were touring Colombo (Sri Lanka), has gone missing after bomb blasts. Two of them are feared killed. I’m in constant touch with Indian high commission on reports of those missing: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy
Two JDS leaders from Nelamangala near Bengaluru, identified as Hanumantarayappa KG and Rangappa M, confirmed dead in Sri Lanka.
7 JDS leaders, who were in Sri Lanka, have not been in touch with their families in India
24 people arrested in connection with multiple blasts in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 24 people from the minority Muslim community in connection with the multiple blasts that rocked the island nation on Sunday, killing over 290 people.
Family’s near miss at bombed Sri Lanka church
When Dilip Fernando arrived at St Sebastian’s church in Sri Lanka’s Negombo on Easter Sunday, it was so crowded he went elsewhere for mass. The decision probably saved his life.
At least six Indian nationals have been reported among the foreigners who died in the blasts, the police said today
Buddhist monks in Bodh Gaya conducted a prayer meeting
Bihar: Buddhist monks, at Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, conducted a prayer meeting & took out a candle light march… https://t.co/e3W3Zbh8Gl
— ANI (@ANI) 1555889347000
The Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark at the midnight, as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the serial bombings in Sri Lanka on April 21.
Improvised bomb made safe near Colombo airport : AFP news agency quoting Police
Sri Lankan Airlines said there were disruptions to flights and has asked leaving passengers to report to the check in counters at least four hours prior to departure because of tight security checks at the International airport.
Police have arrested 24 suspects till now in connection with attacks on churches and hotels: Sri Lankan media
Curfew imposed following a series of explosions yesterday was lifted at 6am, as scheduled.
Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardena termed the blasts as a terrorist attack by religious radicals. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he be terrified of the violence may perhaps start insecurity in the nation as well as its economy. He further added that eight accused have been arrested in the association with these serial blasts.
Ever since the conclusion of the nation’s 26-year civil war, in which the Tamil Tigers, a rebellious group from the ethnic Tamil minority, hunt for freedom from ethnic Sinhala Buddhist majority Sri Lanka, the nation has seen sporadic ethnic and religious violence.
290 Including 5 Indians Killed In Sri Lanka Serial Blasts, 24 Arrested
But the scale of Sunday’s bloodshed remembered the most awful days of the war, when the Tigers and further rebels set off outbursts at Sri Lanka’s Central Bank in downtown Colombo, a busy shopping mall, a significant Buddhist temple as well as tourist hotels.
Wickremesinghe also said that his government would “vest all necessary powers with the defense forces” to take action against those responsible” for Sunday’s attacks, “regardless of their stature.”
The closely instantaneous first six blasts on Sunday morning knock down ceilings and blew out windows at a well-known Catholic church in Colombo, the capital, and at three luxury hotels in the city.
The first blast was reported at St Anthony’s Shrine, which is a famous Catholic church in the capital Colombo. Following which the second deadly explosion was then confirmed at St Sebastian’s, a church in the town of Negombo, which is situated in the north of the capital.
Soon after the second blast, police confirmed the third one which was held in the church which is situated in the town of Batticaloa, along with the church the three high-end hotels in the capital was also hit by the blast.
While conducting a search operation, three of the police officers were also killed at a suspected safe house in Dematagoda, on the outskirts of Colombo, the place where last of the eight blasts took place.
After police moved into Dematagoda, at least two additional blasts happened, with the inhabitants of a safe house seemingly blasting explosives to avert arrest.
Shops were shut down and the streets isolated in Colombo even earlier the government forced a countrywide curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The dead as well as wounded comprised of foreigners along with the local people. According to the hospital sources, the citizens of British, Dutch and America were among the dead, with Britons and Japanese were among those who were wounded in the attacks.
The Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said that at least 207 people were killed and 450 wounded in the blasts.
Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardena wrote on twitter, “I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today.
Sri Lanka Blasts: 8 blasts rock the island nation
He further added, “I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong. Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation. The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation.”
Nations around the world condemned the attacks, and Pope Francis added a plea at the conclusion of his traditional Easter Sunday blessing to address the extermination.
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.”
Who was behind the Sri Lanka bomb blasts?
- Sri Lanka’s police had sent an intelligence warning to top officers on 11 April setting out the threat, says report
- 13 suspects had been taken into custody and were being probed for their connection to the NTJ, according to a report
The pope further 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.”
Also, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern condemned the “devastating” attacks, by stating, “New Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism and our resolve has only been strengthened by the attack on our soil,” Ardern said. “New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely.”
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