VIDEO: Nearly 200 Dead in Sri Lanka in Anti-Catholic Terrorism Attacks

VIDEO: Nearly 200 Dead in Sri Lanka in Anti-Catholic Terrorism Attacks

 

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News sources around the world are reporting a coordinated series of bombings across Sri Lanka on Sunday morning targeting hotels and churches. The death toll is reported to be nearly 200 people according to the New York Times. The BBC is reporting the death count at 147.

The targets of the attacks were Catholic worshipers attending Easter Mass and guests at high-end hotels that are popular with foreign tourists.

“The deadliest of the explosions, which began around 8:45 a.m., appeared to be at St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, a city about 20 miles north of Colombo, the capital. Pictures posted on social media showed blood and rubble as members of the congregation tended to wounded people strewn across pews,” reports the New York Times.

“It was a river of blood,” said N. A. Sumanapala, a shopkeeper near the church who said he had run inside to help. “The priest came out and he was covered in blood.”

The BBC reports:

At least seven blasts were reported. Three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo's Kochchikade district were targeted during Easter services.

The Shangri-La, Kingsbury, Cinnamon Grand and a fourth hotel, all in Colombo, were also hit.

A curfew has been imposed from 18:00 to 06:00 local time (12:30-00:30 GMT).

The government also said there would a temporary block on the use of major social media networks.