Sri lanka blasts what we know so far
The Sri Lanka blasts refer to a series of coordinated terrorist attacks that occurred on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, in Sri Lanka. Here's what we know so far:
Incidents:
- St. Anthony's Shrine, Colombo: A bomb exploded at the St. Anthony's Shrine, a Catholic church in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. At least 83 people were killed and over 250 injured.
- St. Sebastian's Church, Negombo: A bomb exploded at St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, a city located about 37 miles north of Colombo. At least 93 people were killed and over 100 injured.
- Zion Church, Batticaloa: A bomb exploded at Zion Church in Batticaloa, a city located in eastern Sri Lanka. At least 27 people were killed and over 70 injured.
- Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo: A bomb exploded at the Shangri-La Hotel, a luxury hotel in Colombo. At least 5 people were killed and over 20 injured.
- Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo: A bomb exploded at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, another luxury hotel in Colombo. At least 3 people were killed and over 15 injured.
- King's Court, Dematagoda: A bomb exploded at King's Court, a residential area in Dematagoda, a suburb of Colombo. At least 2 people were killed and over 10 injured.
- Dematagoda: A bomb exploded in a parked van in Dematagoda, killing at least 2 people and injuring several others.
Casualties:
- At least 359 people were killed in the attacks.
- Over 500 people were injured.
- Many more are still missing.
Suspects:
- The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
- The Sri Lankan government has identified the main suspect as Zahran Hashim, a radical Islamist cleric who was killed in the blast at St. Anthony's Shrine.
- The government has also identified several other suspects, including Mohamed Azzam Mohamed, a former member of the National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), a local Islamist group.
Investigation:
- The Sri Lankan police and military are investigating the attacks.
- The government has set up a special task force to investigate the attacks and identify those responsible.
- The FBI and other international agencies are providing assistance in the investigation.
Reactions:
- The international community has condemned the attacks, with many countries offering condolences and support to Sri Lanka.
- The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called the attacks "heinous" and "cowardly".
- The Sri Lankan government has declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in several areas.
Aftermath:
- The attacks have led to a significant increase in security measures across Sri Lanka, with many areas being placed under lockdown.
- The government has also announced plans to increase security at churches and other places of worship.
- The attacks have also led to a surge in anti-Muslim sentiment in Sri Lanka, with many Muslims being targeted in attacks and intimidation.
This is a developing story, and more information may become available as the investigation continues.