Sri Lanka Attacks: More Than 200 Killed as Churches and Hotels Targeted

Sri Lanka explosions: What happened

April 21, 2019//-At least 207 people have been killed and 450 hurt in explosions at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, police say.

Eight blasts were reported, including at three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo’s Kochchikade district during Easter services.

The Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand luxury hotels, all in the capital, were also targeted.

A curfew in Colombo was put in place “until further notice” and social media networks have been temporarily blocked.

It remains unclear who carried out the attacks.

A foreign ministry official has said at least 27 foreign nationals are among the dead.

The prime minister has confirmed that eight people have so far been arrested.

He has said there may have been prior intelligence about the attacks.

How did the attacks unfold?

The first reports of explosions came at about 08:45 (03:15 GMT) local time – with six blasts reported close together at churches and luxury hotels.

St Sebastian’s church in Negombo was severely damaged in one explosion, with dozens killed at the site including two ministers. To learn more about the types of life insurance available for clergy and ministers visit Affordable life USA

Images from inside showed blood on the pews and the building’s ceiling shattered.

There were also heavy casualties at the site of the first blast in St Anthony’s, a hugely popular shrine in Kochchikade, a district of Colombo.

Robert Tyler, who has lived in Sri Lanka for six years, told the BBC that at least two of the hotels appeared to have had their restaurants targeted at a busy time for breakfast.

Two further explosions were reported as police tried to find those involved. One blast hit near the zoo in Dehiwala, southern Colombo, and an eighth was reported near the Colombo district of Dematagoda.

Media say it was a suicide bomber and that three people, believed to be security personnel, were killed during a police raid.

Security has since been stepped up at the country’s main Bandaranaike International Airport.

A general view of the empty streets after the Sri Lanka Police curfew

Officials have said people will be able to travel to the airport under the curfew if they produce their boarding pass and identification at checkpoints.

Travellers are being advised to arrive at the airport four hours before their scheduled flight time.

Who are the victims?

The vast majority of those killed are thought to be Sri Lankan nationals, including dozens who were attending Easter church services.

At least five British people – including two with joint US citizenship – are believed to be among the dead. The US State Department says “several” Americans have been killed.

Three Danish citizens and two Turkish nationals were also killed, their governments have confirmed.

Netherlands Foreign Minister Stef Blok said in a statement that one Dutch national has also died.

Reports say three Indian nationals and one Portuguese citizen have also been killed, with more foreign nationals still to be identified.

A bomb goes off as Special Task Force personnel raid a home near Dematagoda in ColomboImage copyrightAFP
Image captionA bomb goes off as Special Task Force personnel raid a home near Dematagoda in Colombo

Colombo resident Usman Ali told the BBC there were massive queues as he joined people trying to donate blood.

He said: “Everyone had just one intention and that was to help the victims of the blast, no matter what religion or race they may be. Each person was helping another out in filling forms.”

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