Multiple coordinated bombings in Sri Lanka- at least 207 dead

[genevieve]

Targets were primarily Christian churches (Easter services) and luxury hotels - places where there would be a lot of people gathered. The whole country is on lockdown. Terrible.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/21/asia/sri-lanka-explosions/index.html

ETA:

Here's the full list of blast sites reported so far:

• St Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade
• St Sebastian's Church, Negombo
• Zion Church, Batticaloa
• Cinnamon Grand, Colombo
• Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo
• The Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo
• Near Dehiwala Zoo in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
• A house in Mahawila Gardens, Dematagoda

 

[skatesindreams]

What horrible news.
May those responsible be found and held accountable.

Designed to create terror and fear on a day of celebration for the Christian community.
Sympathy to all those affected by these attacks.

 

[alexikeguchi]

I am so sorry for this horrible attack on what should have been the most festive day of the year for those impacted. I was in Sri Lanka over Christmas and climbed Adam's Peak, a place of pilgrimage for all of the religions represented in the country. It was such a moving experience to see people of all faiths sharing the experience, and Sri Lankans in general impressed me as very accepting at the same time as they are very devout, largely Buddhists. I am sure the vast majority are devastated by this horrific attack even though it was perpetrated on a minority group, and I pray for healing in the entire country as well as for the families and friends immediately impacted.

 

[allezfred]

Horrific.

 

[cocotaffy]

I don't know anymore, just horrible

 

[Buzz]

Prayers and thoughts to the victims and their families and the people of Sri Lanka.

 

[Debbie S]

Horrible and sickening. Prayers for the victims and their families.

 

[Jot the Dot Dot]

Horror beyond words.

ETA, the death toll as of April 22nd morning, is now 290.

 

[Vash01]

Heard it this morning. Horrible is inadequate to describe it. The coordinated bombings reminded me of September 11, 2001.

 

[paskatefan]

Horrific, beyond words. Prayers for the victims & their families.

 

[misskarne]

Absolutely horrible. Just everyday people going about and celebrating a holiday. Evil truly knows no bounds.

 

[Vagabond]

The President of Sri Lanka and the country's National Security Council apparently were warned about the possibility of the attacks two weeks ago and had the names of suspects but didn't tell the Prime Minister or the Cabinet.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...death-toll-from-bombings-rises-sharply-to-290

If so, the President should resign immediately.

The perpetrators are said to be a domestic radical Islamist group that has been targeting Buddhists.

 

[Vagabond]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/world/asia/isis-sri-lanka-blasts.html

In his first national address since the attacks, President Maithripala Sirisena sought to allay criticism that he was at least partly responsible for the security failure....

He acknowledged “there was an intelligence report about the attack,” which his subordinates had known about for many days, but he also claimed that he was “not kept informed.” ....

Many Sri Lankans say the president contributed to the failure by having refused to let the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, a political rival, into security meetings.

Presidential ignorance, if genuine, is just as bad in this instance as actual knowledge. And politicking with the lives of 800 people is even worse. Dude needs to resign or be impeached.

In proportion to Sri Lanka's population, the loss of life was comparable to what the U.S. suffered on 9/11.[/RANT]

 

[Tinami Amori]

ISIS releases a photo and video of suicide bombers of Sri Lanka Easter Day attacks
(posted by Ceylon's capital media)
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_19A/Apr23_1556039415CH.php

Radical Islamic cleric Zahran Hashim mastermind the attack.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/23/asia/sri-lanka-investigation-ntj-intl/index.html
https://nypost.com/2019/04/23/radic...tedly-named-as-sri-lanka-bombings-mastermind/