Chronicle Editor
World leaders have expressed shock and condemnation over the deadly blasts in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that have left more than 160 people dead and hundreds of others wounded.
Dozens of foreign nationals were feared to have been killed in the near simultaneous blasts, which targeted Catholic church worshippers on Easter Sunday as well as luxury hotels in the heart of the capital Colombo.
A hospital source in Colombo said that American, British and Dutch citizens were among those killed in the six blasts, without giving their details.
Sri Lankan security forces in 2009 defeated Tamil Tiger rebels who had fought to create an independent homeland for the country’s ethnic minority Tamils.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “horrific blasts” and said his country stands with the people of Sri Lanka.
“Strongly condemn the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka. There is no place for such barbarism in our region. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured,” Modi posted on Twitter.
Pakistan also condemned the attacks. Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan “stands in complete solidarity” with Sri Lanka.
Its foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal also issued a statement condemning the explosions.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel said: “Terrorism, religious hatred and intolerance cannot be allowed to win.”
“We’re horrified by the news that Christians in Sri Lanka were attacked and killed during Easter services,” wrote Merkel’s spokesperson on Twitter. “We mourn them and pray for the injured and their family members.”
The German Foreign Office’s crisis response centre wrote that the situation in Sri Lanka was unclear and that it was trying to determine whether German nationals were affected by the attacks.
British Prime Minister Theresa May also decried the attacks, describing the events as “truly appalling”.
“The acts of violence against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka are truly appalling, and my deepest sympathies go out to all of those affected at this tragic time,” May said on Twitter.
“We must stand together to make sure that no one should ever have to practise their faith in fear.”
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the attacks “an assault on all of humanity”.
The Turkish foreign minister also condemned the deadly attacks, which broke a nearly 10-year lull in major attacks since the end of the civil war in the South Asian island nation.
EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker expressed his “horror and sadness” after the deadly Easter Sunday attacks ripped through Sri Lanka.
“It was with horror and sadness that I heard of the bombings in Sri Lanka costing the lives of so many people,” Juncker said on Twitter, adding that the European Union stood ready to help.
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who had gathered to worship peacefully or come to visit this beautiful country,” Juncker said.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the attacks marked “a truly sad day for the country and for the world”.
“Such acts of violence on this holy day are acts of violence against all beliefs and denominations, and against all those who value the freedom of religion and the choice to worship,” she added in a statement.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has condemned the “devastating” attacks.
In a statement, Ardern referred to the March 15 shootings at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch in which 50 died.
“New Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism and our resolve has only been strengthened by the attack on our soil,” Ardern said.
“New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin also denounced the attacks as “cruel and cynical.”
In a telegram of condolences sent to his Sri Lankan counterpart, the Russian leader said Moscow remains a “reliable partner of Sri Lanka in the fight against international terrorism”.
He added that the Russians “share the grief of the relatives of those killed and wish a quick recovery to all those who were wounded” after the Easter Sunday blasts.
Putin voiced confidence that “the perpetrators and the masterminds of such a cruel and cynical crime committed amid the Easter festivities will take the punishment they deserve.” – Al Jazeera
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