As Easter celebrations were taking place across Sri Lanka in particular within the cities of Colombo and Negombo – where the largest Christian communities
\n exist – a depraved series of bomb attacks on churches and exclusive hotels brought terror to revellers and tourists. Early reports focused on 8 explosions
\n but by the end of the day the final count was 10 in which over 200 people were killed and at least a further 400 injured.<\/p>\n
In the early hours of Easter Day (21st April 2019) at approximately 8.30am (3am GMT) while churches were in the midst of celebrations of the resurrection
\n of Jesus Christ, a spate of terrorist attacks across the country ripped through buildings in several locations and a familiar pattern soon emerged.
\n Churches and high-end hotels were being targeted, in what seems to be an extremist agenda against foreigners and the Christian ‘others’ within Sri
\n Lanka.<\/p>\n
The majority of the planned attacks occurred at roughly the same time, targets included:<\/p>\n
St. Sebastian’s Church Negombo
\n
St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo,
\n
Evangelical Zion Church in Batticaloa<\/p>\n
Cinnamon Grand, Colombo
\n
Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo
\n
The Kingsbury. Colombo<\/p>\n
Later in the afternoon around 2.15 pm (8.45am GMT), a guest house near Dehiwala Zoo in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia was attacked and also a private house
\n in Mahawila Gardens,in Dematagoda, while local police officers conducted a house raid.<\/p>\n
Warning the video below contains very graphic images of the aftermath of St Anthony’s Church attack – please avoid watching if you are sensitive to scenes of death:<\/strong><\/p>\n