The death toll due to the series blast in Sri Lanka has touched 138 and the number of injured persons has also crossed the 300 mark. The causalities also include, several foreign tourists, a Lankan newspaper said. The Sri Lankan government has deployed the Army and Paramilitary forces at sensitive locations and is currently holding an emergency meeting at Colombo.
No terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the blast so far, but security experts suspect the Islamist organization Thowheed Jama’ath.
“The terrorist bombings in Sri Lanka have put the spotlight on an Islamist group, Thowheed Jama’ath, which includes Syria-jihad returnees. Foreign intelligence had warned Sri Lanka that Thowheed Jama’ath planned to bomb prominent churches and the Indian High Commission (Embassy)” Indian Security and International Expert Brahma Chellaney has twitted.
#SriLanka #SriLankaBlasts #colombo @SushmaSwaraj: Indians in distress may please contact Indian High Commission in Colombo. We will provide you all assistance. Our helpline numbers are: +94777903082,+94112422788,+94112422789, +94112422789.
LIVE: https://t.co/dSXrPTfjgZ pic.twitter.com/bXQwlVytuq
— Times of India (@timesofindia) April 21, 2019
It may be noted that at least six explosions were reported this morning at three churches in Kochchikade, Katana, and Batticaloa and three five-star hotels in Colombo, police said. Explosions were reported at St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Kotahena and St.Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Katana. Explosions were also reported at three five-star hotels, the Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury in Colombo. Police said another explosion was reported at a church in Batticaloa.
The Indian Government has issued emergency helpline numbers for the Indians located in Srilanka. The helpline numbers are: +94777903082, +94112422788, +94112422789, +94112422789.