Buhari Decries Church Bombing In Sri Lanka …Over 200 Killed

Sri Lankan security personnel walk next to dead bodies on the floor amid blast debris at St. Anthony’s Shrine following an explosion in the church in Kochchikade in Colombo yesterday.
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the horrific attacks on several churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on the holy day of Easter.
The President made his feelings known in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja yesterday.
Buhari extended his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks and wished speedy recovery to the injured.
“We stand with victims of terrorism all over the world because we know and understand this harrowing inhuman activity,” the President said.
According to him, Nigeria stands with the people of Sri Lanka at this terrible moment.
He urged the authorities not to spare”the wicked elements behind these mischievous attacks.”
A series of eight devastating bomb blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on April 21, killing nearly 160 people, including dozens of foreigners.
A series of eight devastating bomb blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on Sunday, killing at least 207 people, including dozens of foreigners.
The attacks were the worst act of violence to hit the country in the decade since the end of a bloody civil war that killed up to 100,000 people.
For many in Sri Lanka, the apparently coordinated attacks brought back painful memories of life during the long-running conflict, when bomb blasts were a frequent occurrence.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the government said eight people had been arrested and investigators would look into whether the attackers had “overseas links.”
The government also imposed a nationwide curfew and curbed social media access to restrict “wrong information” spreading in the country of 21 million people.
The powerful blasts -– six in quick succession and then two more hours later — injured hundreds.
At least two of them involved suicide bombers, including one who lined up at a hotel breakfast buffet before unleashing carnage.
By Sunday evening, the toll stood at 207 dead and 450 people injured.
Police said 35 foreigners were among the dead, including British, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and American citizens.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed that “several US citizens” were killed.