Around 290 people have been killed and 400 injured in a series of suicide bomb attacks in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, government sources say. Three churches were targeted during the Easter mass, including the landmark St. Anthony’s Shrine, an 18th century Catholic Church.
This is the first terror attack of this magnitude on Christians in Sri Lanka, a war-torn island nation in the Indian Ocean. Christians form the smallest religious minority in the Buddhist-majority country. A large portion of Sri Lanka’s seven percent Christians are Catholic.
The names of the two identified suicide bombers point to an Islamist connection. “The attack at Shangri La hotel was carried out by suicide bomber Zahran Hashim, while Abu Mohammad has been identified as the attacker at the Batticalao church,” Indian TV network CNN-News18 said.
At least 35 foreigner nationals, including U.S., British and Dutch citizens were among the dead, Sri Lankan news agency LUSA reported.
Indian broadcaster CNN-News18 reported the details of the terror attack:
A series of eight devastating bomb blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on Sunday, killing over 180 people, including dozens of foreigners. Worshipers were targeted at the Kochikade, St Sebastian and Batticaloa churches during mass, while the other locations were Hotel Shangri La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotel. After a few hours, two more explosions were reported in the suburb of Orugodawatta and Dehiwala.
Indian newspaper Hindustan Times added:
In just one church, St. Sebastian’s in Katuwapitiya, north of Colombo, more than 50 people had been killed, 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 a church in Batticaloa in Eastern Province.
The NY Times reported on the locations:
Images from the site of the bombings showed bloodied and shattered pews and victims lying on the floor of houses of worship. The walls and windows of the targeted hotels were blown out.
Some of the victims were killed as worshipers gathered for Mass at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, the capital; St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, about 20 miles north of Colombo; and Zion Church in the eastern city of Batticaloa, officials said.
Several world leaders, including the Pope, condemned the terror attacks. “I wish to express my heartfelt closeness to the Christian community [of Sri Lanka], wounded as it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence.” Pope Francis said at the Easter address in St. Peter’s Square.
President Donald Trump offered to help the Island nation.
Sri Lanka had declared a state of emergency last March after bloody clashes between Buddhists and Muslims across the country. The tensions first began in 2017, after Buddhists accused Muslims of forcibly converting locals to Islam, and desecrating ancient religious sites. Buddhists make up for about 75 percent of the population, while the Muslims count for almost 10 percent of the country’s 22 million population.
The government has imposed a nationwide curfew, ordering people to stay home, and a “social media ban” to prevent public unrest in the country.
THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED AS MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
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