The death toll in a series of bomb blasts that hit Sri Lanka during Easter celebration on Sunday morning at 08:30, has risen to 262 and 452 people have been reported injured according to local news site Newsfirst.
In the morning explosions were reported at Colombo’s famous St Anthony’s Church, Kochikade Church, Katuwapitiya Church, Shangri La hotel, Cinnamon Grand Hotel and a church in Batticaloa.
Earlier reports said 52 people died and 300 others were wounded when six simultaneous blasts targeted three luxury hotels and a church in Colombo, and also two churches in a suburb of Negombo.
In the afternoon, a bomb blast hit Colombo’s Dehivela and Dematagoda areas. Three police officers were killed in the Dematagoda explosion, Colombo police said. All night-mail trains have been suspended, the Railways Department announced.
According to the police, 13 individuals linked to the attack were arrested last night and 10 of them were later transferred into custody for further investigations. Wellwatte police managed to capture a van and a driver believed to have been used to transport the attackers.
An improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered in close proximity to the Bandaranaike International Airport last night and defused outside the airport by Sri Lanka Air Force members.
More than 50 foreigners killed and injured
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement on the foreign nationals who were affected by Sunday’s (April 21) deadly bomb attacks, with three Indian nationals, one from Portugal, two from Turkey, three from the UK, two holding US and UK nationalities.
Nine foreigners were reported missing. There were 25 unidentified bodies believed to be foreigners and 19 injured (at the National hospital as at 6pm), the ministry announced.
The National Blood Transfusion Service requested the general public to donate blood due to an increase in demand following the multiple explosions and Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam declared holidays for all government schools for Monday and Tuesday.
State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijeywardene said that armed forces will crack down on all extremist forces in the country adding that they have no place in the country and a curfew has been declared from 18:00 pm today for 24 hours.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today. 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,” Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe tweeted.
Indian Prime Minister Narendo Modi also shared his sadness in his Twitter message. “Strongly condemn the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka. There is no place for such barbarism in our region. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured.”
“I condemn in the strongest terms possible the Easter terror attacks in #SriLanka. This is an assault on all of humanity. On behalf of the Turkish people, I offer my condolences to the families of the victims and the people of #SriLanka, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also commented on Twitter.
“Condemn terrorist attacks targeting innocent people in churches & hotels during Easter in #SriLanka.” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker responded to the explosions saying: “It was with horror and sadness that I heard of the bombings in #SriLanka costing the lives of so many people. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who had gathered to worship peacefully or come to visit this beautiful country. We stand ready to support.”
Following the bloody attacks His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo canceled all Easter masses in the Colombo District.
No extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but AFP reported that Sri Lanka’s police chief Pujuth Jayasundara issued an intelligence alert to top officers 10 days ago, warning that suicide bombers planned to hit “prominent churches”.
“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 said.
Local media reported that AFP has seen the secret document.
Pope Francis, the UN, the EU, US President Donald Trump, former US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistani PM Imran Khan are some important leaders who expressed solidarity with Sri Lanka.
The post More than 260 killed in Sri Lanka Easter bomb blasts appeared first on IPA NEWS.
from IPA NEWS https://ipa.news/2019/04/22/more-than-260-killed-in-sri-lanka-easter-bomb-blasts/
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