Sri Lanka - Hundreds dead and injured in terror bombings, 21 April 2019 *ARRESTS*

Pi Thoughts

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A string of blasts targeting hotels and churches in Sri Lanka earlier today which claimed at least 160 lives — including 35 foreigners — a police official told AFP.

British, Dutch, American and Japanese citizens are believed to be among them.
A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said at least 45 people had been killed in Colombo, where three hotels and a church were hit.

Another 67 were killed in an attack on a church in Negombo north of the capital, with another 25 dead at a church in the town of Batticaloa, in the east of the country.
Dozens dead in Sri Lanka church, hotel blasts
 
Map of locations, source EL PAÍS on Twitter

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Daders serie aanslagen Sri Lanka bekend, dodental op 138

The Sri Lankan authorities have identified who is responsible for the attacks. Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said so at a press conference. He spoke of a terrorist act for which 'extremist groups' would be responsible.

The police are said to have warned nationwide ten days ago about attacks on important churches. The National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) is said to have planned the attacks. NTJ is a group of radical Muslims who were held responsible for the destruction of Buddhist images last year.


BBM
 
Seven suspects have been arrested over the Easter Sunday terror bombings at churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, that killed at least 190 people and wounded hundreds more.

Sri Lanka's defense minister Ruwan Wijewardena confirmed the arrests, according to Associated Press.

Eight blasts, thought to have been targeting worshippers and tourists, were reported across the country today, in the worst bout of violence in Sri Lanka since the South Asian country's bloody civil war ended a decade ago. The death toll is expected to rise.
Seven suspects arrested over Sri Lanka bombings as death toll reaches 190
 
30 foreigners among hundreds killed
Among the dead are around 30 foreigners, according to Sri Lankan Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, Harsha de Silva, citing defense officials.

These include:
  • Two Turkish citizens, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu.
  • One Dutch person, according to Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stef Blok.
Live updates: Sri Lanka Easter Sunday explosions - CNN
 
Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardena described the attacks as a terrorist incident and blamed religious extremists. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he feared the violence could trigger instability in the country and its economy.

The first explosion occurred around 8:45 a.m. local time, with the deadliest appearing to be at St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, a city about 20 miles north of Colombo. Other attacks occurred at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo and Zion Church in the eastern city of Batticaloa. The three hotels – the Shangri La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury Hotel – all in Colombo are frequented by foreign tourists.

The other two blasts occurred in Dematagoda, where the occupants of a safehouse apparently detonated explosives to prevent arrest.

An official told the Associated Press that at least two of the church blasts were believed to have been coordinated attack carried out by suicide bombers.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s blasts.

Easter Sunday explosions at multiple churches and hotels rock Sri Lanka, death tolls rises
 
Police say they have arrested three people so far. The government put the figure at seven earlier but police say several others have been arrested but not questioned. They remain in the dark as to the perpetrators and their motive, they say.

There is a suggestion there could be further casualties at the site of the Dematagoda raid, in which three police officers hunting the perpetrators of today’s attacks were killed by an explosion and a number of people arrested.

The British high commissioner to Sri Lanka has confirmed that Britons were among those caught up in the attacks.

Sri Lanka attacks: several arrested after 207 killed at hotels and churches on Easter Sunday – live
 
This is just awful and shows the global reach of Islamic terrorists.

The Muslim population of Sri Lanka is very small (most are Buddhists with a relatively large Hindu minority and small numbers of Christians and Muslims), yet terror groups are still able to find enough recruits to carry these attacks out.

As local Islam in Sri Lanka is small and has not displayed a large radical element before, I am thinking that there is a chance that the attacks were led by foreigners and the perhaps even the suicide bombers imported.
 
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This is just awful and shows the global reach of Islamic terrorists.

The Muslim population of Sri Lanka is very small (most are Buddhists with a relatively large Hindu minority and small numbers of Christians and Muslims), yet terror groups are still able to find enough recruits to carry these attacks out.

As local Islam in Sri Lanka is small and has not displayed a large radical element before, I am thinking that there is a chance that the attacks were led by foreigners and the perhaps even the suicide bombers imported.

I wonder the same, especially given the arrests that have already happened. Maybe related, maybe not, but I had seen an article yesterday (I think BBC) about a Muslim extremist group claiming their first attack in one of the African countries. Sorry to be vague, but I can't find the article right now.

So, more attacks on innocents. Then more retributions on other innocents. Back and forth. What will end this?
 
Two Suicide Bombers Behind Sri Lanka Blasts Identified As Zahran Hashim, Abu Mohammed; Death Toll Rises Over 150

The attack on churches gains major significance given the Christian community constituting a minority of 7.6 per cent in the overall 22 million Sri Lankan population. Though, the true motive behind the attack remains a mystery given so far no individual or terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the shocking attacks, as of now, two suicide bombers have been identified as Zahran Hashim and Abu Mohammed.

According to the media reports, the first blast was reported from St Anthony's Church at Kochcikade in Colombo, second from St Sebastian's Church at Katuwapitiya in Negombo and third from another church in Batticaloa. The three five-star hotels from where the blasts were reported are Shangrila, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury.

As per a News18 report, at least 2 blasts were carried out by suicide bombers. Suicide bombers were behind the attack at Shangri La Hotel and Batticaloa Church. The suicide bombers has been identified as Zahran Hashim and Abu Mohammed, reports News18.


BBM


Two Muslim Suicide Bombers on the way to their idea of paradise.

Zahran Hashim would have attempted another attack earlier this month.

Explosions au Sri Lanka: un des kamikazes a été identifié selon CNN Inde
 
Snipped by me.

It stops when retribution and revenge stops.

Simple solution....but difficult to achieve.

jmo

Despite all the many, many differences, the most fundamental and amazing thing we all have in common seems to be the first thing that escapes us in anger... we are ALL human beings trying to survive on this planet. Passion for humankind is forever dwindling... Other passions seem to easily take its place. So, so sad for us all.
 
Despite all the many, many differences, the most fundamental and amazing thing we all have in common seems to be the first thing that escapes us in anger... we are ALL human beings trying to survive on this planet. Passion for humankind is forever dwindling... Other passions seem to easily take its place. So, so sad for us all.

And I think in the digital age, this anger has more time to spread, and get stoked and manipulated, not to mention new ideas/technologies for destruction get added into the mix as the angry thoughts are disseminated and the hate simmers...
 

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