Explosions leave massive casualties at Sri Lanka churches, hotels

The explosions hit St. Anthony’s Church in Colombo and St. Sebastian’s Church in the nearby city of Negombo as well as Zion Church in the eastern city of Batticaloa on Sunday, as worshipers were attending Easter services.
The Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand, and Kingsbury hotels, which are situated in Colombo, were also targeted.
Cinnamon Grand is located near the Sri Lankan prime minister’s official residence.
A police official confirmed the death toll to AFP.

Sri Lankan security personnel stand next to an ambulance outside St. Anthony’s Church, in Kochchikade, in Colombo, on April 21, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

A post on the Facebook page of St. Sebastian’s Church said a “bomb attack” had targeted the premises.
‘Body parts strewn all over’
Sri Lankan MP Harsha de Silva tweeted that there had been “foreigners” among the casualties. He said he had been to one of the churches and one of the hotels and seen “horrible scenes,” adding, “I saw many body parts strewn all over. Emergency crews are at all locations in full force.”