More than 290 civilians have been killed and more than 400 were injured in deadly eight terrorist attacks that rocked Sri Lanka targeting the minority Christian community on Easter Sunday morning.
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The bloody attacks targeted a couple of hotels and churches, including the St. Sebastian Church in Negombo; the majority Catholic town north of Colombo, and at Zion Church in the eastern town of Batticaloa. In the St. Sebastian Church worshippers were taking part in the Easter Mass on Sunday morning.
Shocking videos and photos were shared on the social media by eyewitnesses and media outlets from the St Sebastian Church in Negombo. It shows ripped-off roof, knocked out windows and doors of the church and people carrying the wounded out trying to get medical help.
#SriLanka
52 killed
200 injured
in multiple blasts in churches and hotels in #SriLanka #blast #attack #سريلانكا pic.twitter.com/0xNMcyfpSx— Mr.Zarwali Khan?? (@HelpAfghan) April 21, 2019
The news horrified and shocked the world, particularly Christians who are celebrating Palm Sunday on the Eastern calendar and Easter on the Gergorian calendar.
Reactions poured in support of Sri Lanka and praying for peace in the holy week from around the world.
It is simply terrorism and it has no religion. #سريلانكا pic.twitter.com/Et4HZ26gKb
— dh (@dyhamadah) April 21, 2019
Can't the world have some peace on these holy days? #SriLanka #Colombo #EasterSunday #سريلانكا pic.twitter.com/kDOqVzHetW
— Jessy El Khoury (@JessyElKhouryy) April 21, 2019
The sickening attacks against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka is just the latest example of the targeting and persecution of Christians in some countries. Solidarity with Christians on Easter Sunday ✝️
— Owen Jones? (@OwenJones84) April 21, 2019
Meanwhile, media outlets circulated documents showing the Sri Lankan police have been on alert for several days that suicide bombers from the local terrorist group, the National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ) are planning attacks on prominent churches around the country.