Not less than 156 people have reportedly lost their lives as a result of multiple bomb blasts on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.
The blast which apparently targeted Christians in the country is also said to have been triggered at some strategic hotels by some suicide bombers who died in the incident as well.
While the death toll may increase as officers try to rescue victims from the rubbles, over 500 individuals sustained various injuries too.
As a matter of fact, 35 non-indigenes from the United States, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands have been confirmed to be among those who lost their lives in the blasts.
A security official who declined to reveal his name for security and authorization reasons mentioned that two out of the over seven blasts were detonated by suicide bombers.
The official explained that at the time, 45 individuals have been confirmed dead in the Colombo area where a total of three hotels and a church were affected. Then, 67 others died in a blast which occurred inside a church in Negombo, the northern part of Sri Lanka’s capital city.
He further stated that 25 church goers lost their lives while worshipping at Batticaloa, the eastern part.
The names of the hotel affected by the blasts are Kingsbury Hotel, Shangri-La Colombo, and Cinnamon Grand.
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe has reacted to the devastating incident, describing it as a cowardly move.
He expressed his sadness when he called for an emergency meeting with the country’s security council.
Victims who sustained injuries were taken to the Colombo National Hospital for proper treatments as soon as forces arrived at the scene.
St Sebastian Church at Katuwapitiya in Negombo has also confirmed that incident via the status section of its Facebook page.
The statement released reads, “A bomb attack to our church, please come and help if your family members are there.”
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