Srilanka:IS claims responsibility for SL bombings,People carry a casket during a mass for victims, two days after a string of suicide bomb attacks on churches and luxury hotels across the island on Easter Sunday, in Negombo (Reuters)

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Explosive device disposed at Kochchikade

An improvised explosive device was detected inside a vehicle near the St. Anthony’s Church, Jampettah Road, Kochchikade, and was disposed in controlled explosion at site by the Bomb Disposal Unit today.

23 April 2019 08:25 am
Death toll rises to 310

The death toll from the Easter Sunday terror attacks has increased to 310 by this morning with 500 people have been injured, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.



22 April 2019 08:42 pm

Controlled explosion

An improvised explosive device was detected inside a vehicle near the St. Anthony’s Church, Jampettah Road, Kochchikade, and was disposed in controlled explosion at site by the Bomb Disposal Unit today.

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22 April 2019 07:03 pm

INTERPOL deploys team to SL to support investigations

INTERPOL is deploying a team to Sri Lanka to assist the national authorities investigating the series of bomb attacks at churches and hotels which left nearly 300 dead and some 500 injured.

Checks are already being made against the Organization’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents and nominal databases in order to identify potential investigative leads and international connections.

Deployed at the request of the Sri Lankan authorities, the Incident Response Team (IRT) will include specialists with expertise in crime scene examination, explosives, counter-terrorism, disaster victim identification and analysis.

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22 April 2019 05:55 pm

Will not allow such a situation to take place again : Prez assures to Cardinal

President Maithripala Sirisena said the Government would not allow such a devastating situation to take place in future and it is taking every step to avert such a situation. He expressed these views when he met with Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Archbishop house today.

While condoling with the victims who faced the tragedy, the President expressed his deepest sympathies to the Catholics who were injured or lost their loved ones on Easter Sunday.

He also discussed with the Cardinal the steps taken in the face of this tragic situation.



22 April 2019 04:23 pm

Explosive device disposed in Kochchikade

An improvised explosive device was detected inside a van near the St. Anthony’s Church, Jampettah Road, Kochchikade, and was disposed in controlled explosion at the site by the Bomb Disposal Unit a short while ago, reporters said.

The van is reportedly on fire.



22 April 2019 03:42 pm

ISIS fanatics celebrate SL attacks

Islamic State supporters are celebrating the Sri Lanka suicide bombings which killed 290 people on Easter Sunday and left around another 500 injured, Daily Mail Online reported.

The SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist activity online, said ISIS fanatics were praising the terror attacks as revenge for the Christchurch mosques shooting.

No group has officially claimed responsibility for the blasts at five-star hotels and churches but Sri Lankan police say a previously unknown Muslim extremist group were the subject of an intelligence warning ten days before.

 



22 April 2019 03:21 pm

Shangri-La suicide bomber identified

The police today informed Colombo Chef Magistrate’s Court that the suicide bomber of the Shangri-La hotel had been identified as Insan Seelavan and owned a factory in Avissawella- Wellampitiya road.

Nine employees of the said factory were arrested by the Wellampitiya Police and were remanded till May 6 after being produced in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The Police also informed the court that the suicide bomber was suspected to have links with other suicide killers died in the Dematagoda blast.



22 April 2019 02:29 pm

Tomorrow declared a national day of mourning

The government has declared tomorrow as a national day of mourning, President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

In a statement, it said the decision was taken at the national security council which convened under the chair of President Maithripala Sirisena this morning.

“The President announced the declaration of April 23 as the day of national mourning for the victims of ruthless terrorist attacks at churches and hotels in the country on April 21,” it said.



22 April 2019 12:54 pm

Police curfew from 8.00 pm to 4.00 am

The police curfew will be imposed across the island from 8.00 pm tonight to 4.00 am tomorrow, the government announced today.



22 April 2019 12:09 pm

Govt analyst confirms suicide bombers carried out all attacks

The Government Analyst today confirmed that yesterday’s attacks on three churches and three hotels were carried out by suicide bombers.

“All the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers,” Government Analyst A. Welianga told the Daily Mirror.



22 April 2019 10:42 am

Ministry requests JMOs to speed up post-mortems

The Justice Ministry today requested the Judicial Medical Officers (JMO) to visit the hospitals and speed up the post mortem investigations of the people who were killed in suicide bomb attacks yesterday.

In a statement, the ministry said the bodies should be immediately returned to the families who lost their loved ones.

“Therefore, we request the JMOs to visit the hospitals where the bodies have been placed and conduct relevant investigations,” the ministry said.



22 April 2019 04:15 am

President returns

President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in the country last night after concluding his private visit to Singapore and India.

President Sirisena left for India on April 16 and visited the Lord Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala and offer prayers.



22 April 2019 01:16 am

Intelligence failures, soft-peddling envelopes deadliest suicide attacks in SL

Two men checked into the Shangri-La which now takes pride of place in the heart of the city on April 20, 2019. They had provided an address in Dematagoda when checking in. Close to 9 a.m. yesterday (April 21) the duo detonated two bombs. One at the packed restaurant cum cafeteria on the 3rd floor of the super luxurious hotel, at which many families had come to indulge in a scrumptious Easter Breakfast, and the next on the corridor of the same floor close to the elevators- not too far from each other. The two explosions rocked the Hotel, with the death toll yet unconfirmed.

This was after the twin explosions at two revered Churches, in Kochchikade and Katana were reported.

The first explosion was at the revered church of St Anthony’s, just outside the city after which the second at the Katuwapitiya Church.

The bombings at the city hotels took place right after. A few minutes after, a massive explosion was reported from the Zion Church in Batticaloa. Police Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara failed to give specific times.

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22 April 2019 12:47 am

Jamiyyathul Ulama condemns attacks

The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) yesterday vehemently condemned the terrorist attack on churches and other places while Christian brothers and sisters were celebrating Easter.

Issuing a statement, the President of the ACJU Mufti M.I.M Rizwe said, “this is a shameful and heinous act which no human being can tolerate for any reason. Though the attacks were carried out on a day holy to a particular religious community, it is a very sad day for all Sri Lankans.”

On behalf of all Sri Lankan Muslims, we the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, extend our arms of solidarity, love and affection towards our Christian brothers and sisters at this moment of grief.

We urge the authorities to assure that all places of worship are adequately protected immediately, and to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice without delay.

We urge all Sri Lankans, especially the Muslim community including trustees of mosques, to do all that is necessary to support the affected communities by facilitating donation of blood, helping the injured, providing psychological support and making them feel safe and secure.

We appeal to all religious and civil leaders to join hands in rightly guiding the people of their respective areas to prevent communal conflicts, and also to the public to refrain from spreading rumours through different forms of media.

At this moment of great tragedy, let us all join together in solidarity and face the challenges with mutual love and respect to move forward as Sri Lankans. We pray to Almighty Allah that He eases the pain of all who were affected and grant His mercy to them.

Let us all be together in this, and help and support each other in this time of grief and pray that we overcome this tragedy as Sri Lankans, ”it added.



22 April 2019 12:08 am

Eiffel Tower goes dark to pay tribute to SL victims

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France is to turn off its lights to pay tribute to the victims of terror attacks in Sri Lanka.

“Tonight, from 12:00 am, I will turn my lights off to pay tribute to the victims of the Sri Lanka attacks,” the official Twitter account of the Eiffel Tower stated.



21 April 2019 11:50 pm

Explosive device disposed at BIA

An improvised explosive device was detected near the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), and was disposed in controlled explosion at site by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) personnel a short while ago.



22 April 2019 12:09 pm

Pope condemns attacks

Pope Francis condemned Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka and said that he would be praying for all those who were suffering from the bloodshed, agency reports which quoted the Vatican said yesterday.

Pope Francis appealed for prayers for those who were affected by the blasts in Sri Lanka at the end of his traditional Easter Sunday blessing.

Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis said:

“I want to express my loving closeness to the Christian community, targeted while they were gathered in prayer and all the victims of such cruel violence.”

“I entrust to the Lord all those who were tragically killed and pray for the injured and all those who are suffering as a result of this dramatic event,” he added.



21 April 2019 10:33 pm

Minute’s silence at the Santiago Bernabéu

The Santiago Bernabéu held a minute’s silence before the LaLiga match week 33 fixture between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, for the victims of the attacks in Sri Lanka and in memory of Agustín Herrerín, who was Real Madrid’s pitch delegate for more than 18 seasons and who died last Thursday.

The Whites’ players wore black armbands and in the stands a banner was displayed which read: “Herrerín, exemplary Madridista, rest in peace”. (Realmadrid)



21 April 2019 09:40 pm

Special investigation panel to probe terror attack

President Maithripala Sirisena will appoint a special investigation panel within the next 24 hours to ascertain information on the national tragedy, which claimed so many lives, Presidential Secretariat said.

The panel is expected to file a report within two weeks.

The Presidential Secretariat said in a statement that the panel would be headed by a Supreme Court judge and would investigate matters related to the blasts, the background and other factors connected to the incidents.



21 April 2019 08:21 pm

Outraged by terror attacks: UN Chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is outraged by the terrorist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, a sacred day for Christians around the world.

In a statement, his office said the UN Chief recalled the sanctity of all places of worship.

“He hopes the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice. The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the people and the Government of Sri Lanka, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. He commends the leadership demonstrated by the authorities and unity of the people of Sri Lanka in the wake of the attacks,” it said.

The Secretary-General reiterates the support and solidarity of the United Nations with the people and the Government of Sri Lanka in this difficult moment for the nation.

Meanwhile, the United Nations in Sri Lanka said it strongly condemns the attacks against civilians carried out in places of worship and city hotels on Easter Sunday.

“The United Nations in Sri Lanka expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families and victims as well as the Government and people of Sri Lanka and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

Attacks such as these are aimed at undermining the unity of the people of Sri Lanka, the United Nations urges authorities, and all citizens to ensure that the rule of law is upheld, human rights are protected, and security and safety is ensured for all,” the UN office said.



21 April 2019 07:53 pm

Van allegedly used for terror attacks found

A van allegedly used to transport suspects and explosives to Colombo was taken into custody with its driver in Wellawatte this evening, police said.

Meanwhile, the police have also found a house where several suspects alleged to have been staying at Sarikkamulla in Panadura North.



21 April 2019 07:52 pm

Special Operation Centre at police headquarters

 

Batticaloa church


 

Kochchikade Church


 

Katuwapitiya Church

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana, Nisal baduge, Nimalsiri Edirisinghe, Waruna Wanniarachchi


 

Dehiwala


 

Dematagoda


 

General hospital – colombo


 

Ragama Basilica church


 

Shangri-la Hotel


 

cinnamon grand Hotel

Source:dailymirror.lk/