At least 138 people were killed and more than 400 others injured after eight simultaneous blasts hit three Sri Lankan churches and three five star hotels in the south west of the country on Easter, today.
Police explained that more than 50 people had died at St Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya, north of Colombo. A security official said near simultaneous blasts hit the six locations, causing multiple fatalities among worshippers and hotel guests.
The local TV showed damage at the Cinnamon Grand, Shangri-La and Kingsbury hotels. In addition the explosion ripped off the roof and knocked out doors and windows at St. Sebastian's, where people carried the wounded away from blood stained pews.
Sri Lanka bombing
Hours after the first six were reported, there have been two more fatal blasts in the city an explosion at a hotel in Dehiwala which killed two and another in a housing complex in Dematagoda which reportedly killed three police officers.
Among the dead are 35 foreigners, including nationals from the UK, US, Netherlands and Portugal, according to local reports.
Explosions Shakes Sri Lanka
Also, Sri Lanka's Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Harsha de Silva, confirmed in a tweet on his account, "Emergency meeting called in a few minutes. Rescue operations underway".
heads of Sri Lankan Army, Navy, Air Force an emergency meeting
De Silva stressed that the heads of the Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force have convened for an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and multiple other ministers in the cabinet. The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Foreign Affairs were also present, according to de Silva's tweet.
The Sri Lanka’s police chief had warned of suicide bombers planning to hit “prominent churches” 10 days before today’s attack.
Sri Lanka bombing
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).
The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka condemned the evil attacks, reported that he was in a church service which was cut short by the blasts.
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