Series of terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka - Late News

A series of simultaneous attacks happened in Sri Lanka, against three hotels and three churches, causing death of at least 200 people this easter sunday, april, 21st. More than 500 hundren injuries.

According to the Sri Lanka authorities, the attacks happened around 8:45 - 9:00 at the local time, at the time of the explosions, the catholic temple were celebrating the easter and ressurrection sunday.

The Capital City, Colombo, were target of at least four explosions, in hotels and a church, in other two churches in the Negombo city, west of the country, the region of the main catholic population. Another church was based in Batticaloa, in the east.

Few hours after the six explosions, there were registered two more attacks. One explosion in a horel in Dehiwala, suburbs of Colombo.

The eight explosion registered in Dematagoda, another suburb of Colombo, in a residential place. Seven people were arrested suspected of part of these attacks. The BBC informed that government said that most of the attacks happened by suicidal terrorists.

No group claimed yet the attack. In answer, government imposed a curfew in the island, for 12 hours, from 18 - 06h - april, 22nd.

Also, determined the block of the social networks and internet connection, impending the difusion of incorrect information and fake news. All platforms of social networks were blocked temporary, according to the president.

Also, informed that the schools will not work till the wednesday, and called back all police officers in day offs and vacations. Maithripala Sirisena, the president of the country, claimed calm and peace after the series of attacks. He, also, affirmed, that the investigations are in order to discover which conspiration is behind this attack, and classified as a crude action.

The finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera, said the attacks are an attempt to push the country to a new order of violence again, as in the past, when there was a civil war in the country between 1980 and 2000.

According to him, the explosions were an attempt on raise new religious tensions and racial questions again. The catholic authorities expressed also sorrow for the attacks.

The Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcom Ranjith, requested the authors of the attack be punished mercilessly, and affirmed that only irrational beings could behave like this. He requested that the government raise an 'imparial investigation, bus strong'.

These kind of attacks are repeatedly in the island, in the last years, happened lot of them, specially in 2018, when the government had to declare state of emergengy after the clash between budhists and muslims.

The religious division in the country is:

Christians = 7%;

Budhists = 70%;

Hinduists = 15%;

Muslims = 11%.

Attacks like this magnitude never happened again since 2009, when the guerrilla Tiger Tamils was operating in a conflict that lasted for 26 years against the group and the government. This conflict, according to UN Data, left more than 40 civilians dead.

The international authorities had sorrow for them Sri Lanka christians. Steffen Seibert, spokerson of Angela Merkel, wrote that they claimed for the injuries and the dead's families. Also he claimed that terrorism and hate will never preail.

Angela Merkel also said that will never support this kind of religious intollerance. She said that it's shocking to happen this kind of attack in a date to celebrate faith and peace.

Emmanuel Macron also condemned the hateful attacks. He asked for solidarity to the victims.

Theresa May condemned the attacks and said that the world must unify to understand that nobody must be condemned to practice their inner faith.

Vladmir Putin classified the attacks as crude and cinics. In a telegram he said that Moscow will be still a trustable partner of Sri Lanka in the fight against terrorism.

Donald Trump sent condolences to the people of Sri Lanka and said the USA are ready to happen on what is necessary against the terrorists in country.

The attacks were planned and coordinated, according to local authorities, but it's early to affirm who is behind it. With no details, Wijewardane said that all guilty are being identified and will sent to custody as fast. Another minister, Harsha de Silva, described terrible scenes at the Sanctuary of Saint Anthoy, in Kochchikade, after he saw parts of the bodies around.

Some images in internet shows parts of the roof around with bood everywhere in the churches. At least 67 deads. Another church, San Sebastián, in Negombo, shows the weight of the attack, with many casualities.

Some authorities are afraid that militants of Islamic State returned from the Middle East to the island and are reclaiming the muslim minorities to join a fight against the other religious, specially Budhism that is the majority in the island.