At least 156 dead, hundreds injured in multiple blasts at churches, hotels on Easter Sunday

[Jonathan Fairfield]

At least 156 dead, hundreds injured in multiple blasts at churches, hotels on Easter Sunday

By Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez

 

 

COLOMBO (Reuters) - At least 156 people were killed and more than 400 injured after three Sri Lankan churches and three hotels were hit by a string of explosions on Easter Sunday (April 21), police and hospital sources said.

 

Police officials added that at least 35 foreigners were among the dead. A hospital source said Americans, British and Dutch citizens were among those killed in the six blasts.

 

More than 50 people were killed in St. Sebastian's gothic-style Catholic church in Katuwapitiya, north of Colombo, a police official told Reuters, with pictures showing bodies on the ground, blood on the pews and a destroyed roof.

 

Media reported 25 people were also killed in an attack on an evangelical church in Batticaloa in Eastern Province.

 

The three hotels hit were the Shangri-La Colombo, Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo and the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. It was unclear whether there were any casualties in the hotels.

 

Nine foreigners were among the dead, the officials said.

 

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks in a country which was at war for decades with Tamil separatists until 2009 during which bomb blasts in the capital were common.

 

Christian groups say they have faced increasing intimidation from some extremist Buddhist monks in recent years. And last year, there were clashes between the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community and minority Muslims, with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam.

 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called a national security council meeting at his home for later in the day.

 

"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," he said in a Tweet.

 

"Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation. The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation."

 

President Maithripala Sirisena said he had ordered the police special task force and military to investigate who was behind the attacks and their agenda.

 

The military had been deployed, according to a military spokesman, and security stepped up at Colombo's international airport.

 

ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS

 

One of the explosions was at St Anthony's Shrine, a Catholic Church in Kochcikade, Colombo, which is a tourist landmark.

St. Sebastian's posted pictures of destruction inside the church on its Facebook page, showing blood on pews and the floor, and requested help from the public.

 

Last year, there were 86 verified incidents of discrimination, threats and violence against Christians, according to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), which represents more than 200 churches and other Christian organisations.

 

This year, the NCEASL recorded 26 such incidents, including one in which Buddhist monks allegedly attempted to disrupt a Sunday worship service, with the last one reported on March 25.

 

Out of Sri Lanka's total population of around 22 million, 70 percent are Buddhist, 12.6 percent Hindu, 9.7 percent Muslim and 7.6 percent Christian, according to the country's 2012 census.

 

In its 2018 report on Sri Lanka's human rights, the U.S. State Department noted that some Christian groups and churches reported they had been pressured to end worship meetings after authorities classified them as "unauthorized gatherings".

 

The report also said Buddhist monks regularly tried to close down Christian and Muslim places of worship, citing unidentified sources.

 

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, told local TV that the public should remain calm and asked authorities to bring those responsible for the attacks before the law. He also requested the public donate blood for the injured.

 

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam announced that all schools would be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

 

Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Day after his death on the cross.

 

(Edited by Martin Howell and Nick Macfie)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-21

 

 

 

[ravip]

Suicide bombers were used, radical Islamists suspected: Sources

http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Suicide-bombers-were-used--radical-Islamists-suspected:-Sources/108-165660

Edited April 21, 2019 by metisdead
Oversize font reset to normal.

[toenail]

Sri Lanka is one of my favorite tourist destination. The Buddhist and Muslim people are so polite and passive. We need to remember these bombings do not represent the Sri Lankan people . This savage action was conspired by a few misfits of society. I bet these rejects of human society are not from Sri Lanka.  

[mauGR1]

Can't believe humans can do that.

[overherebc]

29 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

Can't believe humans can do that.

I can, animals are too intelligent to do these things.

[BobbyLambo]

39 minutes ago, toenail said:

Sri Lanka is one of my favorite tourist destination. The Buddhist and Muslim people are so polite and passive. We need to remember these bombings do not represent the Sri Lankan people . This savage action was conspired by a few misfits of society. I bet these rejects of human society are not from Sri Lanka.  

I agree

[Nyezhov]

Horrible. My Kid just booked a trip there too. I guess she wants to add terrosim risks to earthquakes in her portfolio of travel dangers

[AtoZ]

44 minutes ago, toenail said:

We need to remember these bombings do not represent the Sri Lankan people . This savage action was conspired by a few misfits of society. I bet these rejects of human society are not from Sri Lanka. 

yeah, they were probably lone wolves

 

nothing to do with the religion of peace

 

in Thailand no Thai is capable of committing crime too

[Thainesss]

Hell of alot of christian attacks lately. I expect the same treatment and defense from liberals as they give for their muslim friends. 

 

Dont worry though, unlike the religion of peace the Christians wont be calling for revenge, beheadings, and stoning. 

[DrTuner]

Shall we see Sri Lanka's PM go hug Christians then? That's the tradition after the two cousin religions start offing each other innit?

[simple1]

8 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Shall we see Sri Lanka's PM go hug Christians then? That's the tradition after the two cousin religions start offing each other innit?

PM is Buddhist

[Orton Rd]

1 hour ago, toenail said:

Sri Lanka is one of my favorite tourist destination. The Buddhist and Muslim people are so polite and passive. We need to remember these bombings do not represent the Sri Lankan people . This savage action was conspired by a few misfits of society. I bet these rejects of human society are not from Sri Lanka.  

Not a few misfits but part of a worldwide ideology dedicated to be supreme over all other cultures and faiths. These hardened activists are not interested in our human rights, equality and multiculturalism. They are not lone wolves or mental cases they are soldiers inspired by certain religious books.

[geoffbezoz]

Despite the start of the hysteria campaign by posters on here blaming one group or the other, at time of posting , no one has claimed responsibility , so no ones know who for sure,  but for all of those poor people who have died then RIP.

 

I suspect as usual, irrespective of the perpetrators of the many who died there will be Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims and all innocents.   Not of course religion matters, they were all human beings, now dead due to the acts of the lunatic fringe who hang out in this world under many guises unfortunately.

 

Sri Lanka is a lovely country with lovely people and I have visited there and worked with many throughout my life, but now they have just something else to rebuild from.

Edited April 21, 2019 by geoffbezoz

[Thainesss]

Christian attacks. This is a real image. Now up to 8 churches and hotels. 

 

[metisdead]

Quote

 

Sri Lanka explosions: More than 200 killed as churches and hotels targeted

 

At least 207 people have been killed and 400 hurt in explosions at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, police say.

 

At least eight blasts were reported. Three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo's Kochchikade district were targeted during Easter services.

 

The Shangri-La, Kingsbury, Cinnamon Grand and a fourth hotel, all in Colombo, were also hit.

 

Read more here:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48001720

 

 

 

In that article it said this:  "No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks but the defence minister said they were probably carried out by one group."

 

 

Until it is officially revealed as to who that one group was that carried out these attacks, let's keep the speculative speculations to a minimum. 

 

Thanks.

 

[lungbing]

Will the PM of New Zealand be wearing a sari to show solidarity with the dead?  Will there be hakas performed?  Don't be daft, they were only Christians.  And the apologists will be saying "The killers  are not real Muslims".  Oh, that's alright then.

[Thainesss]

17 minutes ago, metisdead said:

In that article it said this:  "No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks but the defence minister said they were probably carried out by one group."

 

Until it is officially revealed as to who that one group was that carried out these attacks, let's keep the speculative speculations to a minimum. 

 

BBC Reporter/Producer, BBC Sinhala, Colombo, Sri Lanka:

 

 

Suicide bombs carried out by 1 group. 

[Opl]

The Straits Times ( Singapore): 

"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,” said the alert. The NTJ is a radical Muslim group in Sri Lanka that came to notice in 2018 when it was linked to the vandalisation of Buddhist statues."

at least 207 killed  450 injured

 

Edited April 21, 2019 by Opl

[toenail]

Horrible. My Kid just booked a trip there too. I guess she wants to add terrosim risks to earthquakes in her portfolio of travel dangers

I think we all have ( unfortunately) have vacationed in cities around the world that have been attacked by terrorists. For me, Delhi, Dhaka, Cairo, Paris, Istanbul, Bali, and now Colombo... You learn to not stay in 5 star international hotels - easy targets for brain dead terrorists.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[surangw]

4 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

Can't believe humans can do that.

savages 

[evadgib]

Katie Hopkins has highlighted several examples of hypocrisy by political figures when Christians are on the receiving end. Here is one example:

 

[ravip]

36 minutes ago, Bipolar said:

I noticed that whenever people criticise Islam or muslims, a lot of "do gooders" or hypocrites react .....but when muslims keep on doing these things ...everyone keeps quiet! When the poor white guy who shot many muslims at a mosques in New Zealand as he was too afraid of seeing too many muslim migrants coming into Australia and New Zealand, setting up Mosques and Muslim schools and walking around with goats beard etc and start instilling their beliefs and sharia laws everywhere wheres all non muslims cannot practise their faith in non-muslim countries, but yet many people called the poor white non-muslim guy horrible things when all he was doing was protecting his country and family from these invading terrorists!

 

Really, when is the world going to wake up to the threats of Islam and its followers. Must they kill 70% of the non-muslims before the world wakes up??????? verey small gesture counts, boycotting muslim businesses, muslim countries, muslim people an dharming them within the legal boundaries for instance have a stance of not accepting muslim employees etc. Vote out governments or politicans that allow muslim migranst in non-muslims countries or those that suport muslim businesses or the building of more mosques etc.

Terrorism should be handled with an iron fist. Not with so called HR rights and other NGO puss footing. As it is this problem has gone beyond control. 

[attrayant]

3 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Katie Hopkins has highlighted several examples of hypocrisy by political figures when Christians are on the receiving end.

 

 

That's quite a stretch.  Do you really think May felt sorry only for the structures rather than the people inside them?  In both tweets, "all those affected" were mentioned - unless you think she's talking about the buildings there also??

 

Also, did she back up those alleged hypocritical thoughts with public statements?

[stevenl]

9 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Katie Hopkins has highlighted several examples of hypocrisy by political figures when Christians are on the receiving end. Here is one example:

 

If you look for things you will find them.

[evadgib]

1 minute ago, attrayant said:

 

That's quite a stretch.  Do you really think May felt sorry only for the structures rather than the people inside them?  In both tweets, "all those affected" were mentioned - unless you think she's talking about the buildings there also??

 

Also, did she back up those alleged hypocritical thoughts with public statements?

You might like to check the remainder of KH's posts on the subject, along with the ones she posted re NZ a fortnight ago.

[attrayant]

6 minutes ago, evadgib said:

You might like to check the remainder of KH's posts on the subject, along with the ones she posted re NZ a fortnight ago.

 

I scrolled through a few dozen tweets but then I started feeling like I needed a shower.  Had to stop.

 

8 minutes ago, stevenl said:

If you look for things you will find them.

 

Exactly.  How about this "Ha ha" reaction to my post about christians taking bloody revenge?

 

 

How easy would it be to misread some kind of inappropriateness into that?

[White Christmas13]

Funny tonight a watched the last show of mike willesi (spelling) it showed how Catholics

believe in any thing related to Jesus all the stories about Jesus  statues weeping blood and

tears only happen in catholic countries and the blood tested from a few samples is

not male but female so who is fooling who?

[Dumbastheycome]

4 hours ago, Thainesss said:

Hell of alot of christian attacks lately. I expect the same treatment and defense from liberals as they give for their muslim friends. 

 

Dont worry though, unlike the religion of peace the Christians wont be calling for revenge, beheadings, and stoning. 

No. Instead they will use it to  justify a  campaign of war against  all and sundry involving even more innocent deaths .

[evadgib]

9 minutes ago, attrayant said:

I scrolled through a few dozen tweets but then I started feeling like I needed a shower.  Had to stop.

She is nonetheless a Sandhurst trained (Retd) military intelligence officer who often hits the nail on the head no matter how uncomfortable some may deem her views. 

Edited April 21, 2019 by evadgib

[elliss]

6 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

Can't believe humans can do that.

 

  Murder, In the name of Religion . barbarians ..

    A World, without any religion , would be a better place , to live.  RIP.

  

      

 

 

Edited April 21, 2019 by elliss