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Sri Lanka attacks: tributes paid as two more victims named - live news
Sri Lanka attacks: tributes paid as two more victims named - live news
(32 minutes later)
Sri Lankan stock exchange to reopen
Trading on Colombo’s stock exchange will resume on Tuesday morning at 10.30am, according to the government’s official news portal.
Social media blackout continues
The blocks on social media aps, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are still in place. Twitter also appears to be blocked. The Associated Press has reported that YouTube, Snapchat and Viber have also been affected. The authorities said the blocks were put in place to stop the spread of misinformation online.
Sri Lanka’s business paper, the Daily FT, is reporting that parliament will be “summoned” today in order to allow the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to make a statement about the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.
National day of mourning
National day of mourning
Sri Lankans will observe a national day of mourning on Tuesday, to grieve the loss of nearly 300 people killed in Easter Sunday’s bomb attacks on hotels and churches.
Sri Lankans will observe a national day of mourning on Tuesday, to grieve the loss of nearly 300 people killed in Easter Sunday’s bomb attacks on hotels and churches.
Australia has also updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka, cautioning people to “reconsider your need to travel”. It confirms access to the airport for those wanting to travel out of Colombo:
Australia has also updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka, cautioning people to “reconsider your need to travel”. It confirms access to the airport for those wanting to travel out of Colombo:
Passengers of all airlines flying out of Bandaranaike International Airport during the period can reach the airport during curfew by producing their air tickets and passports to security forces at check points. Departing passengers are requested to arrive four hours before their flight. Authorities have also confirmed that arrangements have been put in place for arriving passengers.
Passengers of all airlines flying out of Bandaranaike International Airport during the period can reach the airport during curfew by producing their air tickets and passports to security forces at check points. Departing passengers are requested to arrive four hours before their flight. Authorities have also confirmed that arrangements have been put in place for arriving passengers.
In the UK, Press Association is reporting that flags will fly at half mast outside Downing Street and the Foreign Office building on Tuesday in mourning for the victims of the attack. It’s believed members of three British families died in the bomb blasts.
In the UK, Press Association is reporting that flags will fly at half mast outside Downing Street and the Foreign Office building on Tuesday in mourning for the victims of the attack. It’s believed members of three British families died in the bomb blasts.
UK travel advice for Sri Lanka
UK travel advice for Sri Lanka
British travel advice to Sri Lanka was updated on Monday. As well as urging travellers to follow local security advice, hotel security staff and tour companies, the Foreign Office gave information on those wanting to travel in and out of Colombo airport. It said:
British travel advice to Sri Lanka was updated on Monday. As well as urging travellers to follow local security advice, hotel security staff and tour companies, the Foreign Office gave information on those wanting to travel in and out of Colombo airport. It said:
The Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed that, if you need to catch a flight from Colombo airport, you are able to travel to the airport provided you have both passport and ticket valid for travel that day. They have also confirmed that arrangements have been put in place for arriving passengers.
The Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed that, if you need to catch a flight from Colombo airport, you are able to travel to the airport provided you have both passport and ticket valid for travel that day. They have also confirmed that arrangements have been put in place for arriving passengers.
You can see the full advice on the FCO’s Twitter account here.
You can see the full advice on the FCO’s Twitter account here.
Who carried out the bomb attacks?
Who carried out the bomb attacks?
After news emerged on Monday that Sri Lankan authorities were warned of possible attacks two weeks ago, attention has focussed on who could be behind the bomb blasts.
After news emerged on Monday that Sri Lankan authorities were warned of possible attacks two weeks ago, attention has focussed on who could be behind the bomb blasts.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but according to the Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman and health minister, Rajitha Senaratne, who gave a press conference on Monday afternoon, an intelligence memo warning about the attacks named the radical Islamist group National Thowheeth Jama’ath as planning suicide bomb attacks on churches. However it’s unclear if any new information has emerged since the attacks that establishes if that organisation is responsible.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but according to the Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman and health minister, Rajitha Senaratne, who gave a press conference on Monday afternoon, an intelligence memo warning about the attacks named the radical Islamist group National Thowheeth Jama’ath as planning suicide bomb attacks on churches. However it’s unclear if any new information has emerged since the attacks that establishes if that organisation is responsible.
You can read our full story about the warning of attacks here.
You can read our full story about the warning of attacks here.
Sri Lanka authorities were warned of attacks two weeks ago, says minister
Sri Lanka authorities were warned of attacks two weeks ago, says minister
The international police organisation, Interpol, is deploying a response team to Sri Lanka at the request of local authorities to help with the investigation into the bombings.
The international police organisation, Interpol, is deploying a response team to Sri Lanka at the request of local authorities to help with the investigation into the bombings.
Hello, this is Alison Rourke taking over the live blog on the Sri Lanka bomb attacks. Let’s start with a summary of what we know.
Hello, this is Alison Rourke taking over the live blog on the Sri Lanka bomb attacks. Let’s start with a summary of what we know.
Here’s what we know so far:
Here’s what we know so far:
The death toll from Easter Sunday’s attacks on churches and hotels stands at 290, with at least 500 injured.
The death toll from Easter Sunday’s attacks on churches and hotels stands at 290, with at least 500 injured.
The vast majority of those who lost their lives were Sri Lankan. It’s thought as many as 40 foreign nationals may also have been killed.
The vast majority of those who lost their lives were Sri Lankan. It’s thought as many as 40 foreign nationals may also have been killed.
A state of emergency came into force at midnight local time on Monday, giving police and military special powers, including detention without a court order.
A state of emergency came into force at midnight local time on Monday, giving police and military special powers, including detention without a court order.
A night-time curfew remains in place.
A night-time curfew remains in place.
On Tuesday President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to meet with foreign diplomats to “to seek international assistance to combat terrorism”.
On Tuesday President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to meet with foreign diplomats to “to seek international assistance to combat terrorism”.
Both the Daily Mail and the Times are quoting relatives of British siblings, 19-year-old Daniel Linsey and 15-year-old Amelie Linsey, as saying they were killed in the blasts.
Both papers report that the teenagers were with their father in a restaurant when the first explosion hit. They reportedly survived that but were killed by a second blast as they tried to escape.
The Mail quotes their older brother, David, while the Times has spoken to their father, Matthew. The victims’ sibling told the Mail:
They were due to fly home that day and had been having breakfast when the first bomb went off. My dad said they were all caught up in a second explosion as they tried to escape. Both my brother and sister were instantly unconscious and were taken to hospital but they never woke up. My dad is shocked and has not said much apart from that. He is trying to be strong for my little brother, who is 12, and my mum.
He told the paper his father believed Amelie to be less severely hurt when he found the two teenagers because she had no obvious major physical injuries. According to both papers, the siblings were given medical attention, but were later pronounced dead. Their brother told the Mail:
I can’t describe just how devastating it is. You don’t think it will happen to you. We miss them so much already.
Their father is also quoted by the Times as saying they tried to escape after the first blast, only to be caught up in the second.
Their identities have not been officially confirmed by the authorities in either the UK or Sri Lanka.
The family of Dr Sally Bradley have remembered a “loyal and hardworking woman that lived for adventure” as they confirmed she was killed, along with her husband Bill Harrop, in the atrocity in Sri Lanka.
Her nephew has said:
On 21 April 2019, Dr Sally Bradley was killed, alongside her husband Bill Harrop, in Sri Lanka. They were staying at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel when a suicide bomber decided to take their lives in a cowardly and senseless act.
Dr Sally Bradley was a kind, loyal and hardworking woman that lived for adventure. She was the personification of joy that life could bring if you approached it with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. She dedicated her professional life to public service and was a true daughter of Greater Manchester.
After graduating from the University of Manchester Medical School, she was a GP in Salford, a Director of Public Health in Manchester and then the Medical Director of Pennine Acute NHS Trust, before travelling to Australia with her husband Bill, a decorated firefighter in Greater Manchester, where she continued to practice medicine.
Their aim was always to experience life to the fullest. Kindred spirits, they travelled the world together, safe in each other’s arms and with smiles across their faces. They were the heartbeat of their families and the inspiration in their lives. They will be forever sorely missed, but never forgotten.
Sally Bradley’s brother, the Labour peer Lord Keith Bradley, has added:
This immensely tragic event will be something my family will never truly get over. I have lost a sister, who was not only an inspiration to me, but someone that was respected and loved across Greater Manchester.
Over the last 24 hours, I have been inundated with beautiful tributes to a remarkable and wondrous woman. She was truly a bright light in many people’s lives. The light may have been cruelly distinguished for no reason or justification, but she will always live in our hearts and the memories she provided will be forever cherished. I, and my family, will miss her more than words can articulate.
The Press Association is now quoting Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s Dave Keelan, a former colleague of Billy Harrop, as saying:
This is devastating news and the thoughts of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are with Bill and Sally’s families. Bill served here for 30 years, retiring at the end of 2012. He was a much a loved and respected colleague and friend. He will be greatly missed.
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has offered his condolences after the deaths of two Spanish citizens. My love and solidarity to the friends and relatives of the two young people from Pontecesures who died in the Sri Lanka attacks,” he tweeted. “Our heart is with all the victims of this cruel attack.”
There are numerous reports that two of the British people killed in the atrocity were Billy Harrop, a highly respected former firefighter, and his wife Sally, from Greater Manchester. According to the Manchester Evening News (MEN), their son Gavin survived the attack.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has declined to confirm or deny the reports but the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has tweeted its condolences:
Our thoughts are with Billy’s family, friends and former colleagues at this sad time #WeRemember #SriLanka https://t.co/pyCIt9V5x9
The MEN also quotes two FBU officials who paid tribute to the couple. Gary Keary, the union’s brigade secretary, said:
The FBU is shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of former firefighter Billy Harrop and his wife in the tragic events in Sri Lanka. The FBU sends its deepest condolences to his family and friends.
And Kev Brown, former Fire Brigades Union secretary, said:
Billy was a former pupil of Sale Grammar School, was well known in the brigade, and was a real character. He led the Philips Park team in response to the IRA bomb in Manchester 1996 and received a commendation for his actions in the incident.
According to the Reuters news agency, the Swiss federal department of foreign affairs (FDFA) has said two of the country’s citizens were among those killed in the bomb attacks.
One of the individuals also held citizenship of a second country, a spokeswoman said. A third member of the family, who did not have Swiss citizenship, also died in the explosions, she added. The Sri Lankan parents of a Swiss-Sri Lankan family also died in the attacks, she said.
“The FDFA is in contact with relatives and supports them with consular protection,” the spokeswoman said. She did not provide any more details about the victims.
Ben Nicholson has released an emotional statement paying tribute to his wife and two children; all three of whom were killed in an explosion at the restaurant where they were eating.
Following reports in the media over the past 36 hours, my family and I wish to confirm that my wife Anita, our son Alex (age 14) and our daughter Annabel (age 11) were killed in the bombing of the restaurant of the Shangri-la Hotel, Colombo on Sunday morning while sitting at our table. Mercifully, all three of them died instantly and with no pain or suffering.
I am deeply distressed at the loss of my wife and children. Anita was a wonderful, perfect wife and a brilliant, loving and inspirational mother to our two wonderful children. The holiday we had just enjoyed was a testament to Anita’s enjoyment of travel and providing a rich and colourful life for our family, and especially our children.
Alex and Annabel were the most amazing, intelligent, talented and thoughtful children and Anita and I were immensely proud of them both and looking forward to seeing them develop into adulthood. They shared with their mother the priceless ability to light up any room they entered and bring joy to the lives of all they came into contact with.
I would like to give my sincere thanks for the medical teams at General Hospital, Colombo, for treating Anita, Alex and Annabel with great dignity and me with kindness and sympathy. I would also like to thank the teams at the British Consulate and Adhvan Tours who have looked after me since Sunday morning and the Sri Lankan people I have encountered in Colombo following this catastrophe.
Anita, Alex and Annabel leave behind a large extended family and many close and cherished friends who are now grieving this tragic loss. We shall all miss them dearly. We are all grateful for the many expressions of support and good wishes. We would ask that the media now respect our privacy and allow us to grieve together.
Scotland Yard has released a statement following the attacks. Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Dean Haydon, the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said:
My thoughts and condolences are with the people of Sri Lanka and all those who have been affected by the devastating attacks that took place yesterday, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of people.
We now also know that at least eight British people were killed during the attacks and Counter Terrorism Policing is working with our colleagues from the Foreign Office to support the families affected.
A number of churches were targeted during the attacks but we stand together with communities of all faiths, and we will continue to work with our communities and our partners to counter the threat no matter where it comes from.
Together with our intelligence partners we continually monitor the varied threats we face, including to and around places of worship and specific communities across the country, to ensure we have the most appropriate protective security measures in place to keep people safe.
Officers across the UK regularly engage with communities of all faiths, giving advice on how people and places can protect themselves and this work will continue.
I would urge places of worship to also carry out our online training package ‘ACT Awareness eLearning’ for advice on Protective Security and how to react should the worst happen. It can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/act-awareness-elearning. I’d also encourage everyone to be aware of our Run, Hide, Tell advice.
We stand together with Sri Lankan communities and all those who have been affected and left shocked and horrified by these attacks in Sri Lanka.
Spain’s foreign ministry said two of the country’s citizens were among those killed in Sri Lanka.
Earlier, the mayor of the town of Pontecesures, in the northern Galicia region, told the Spanish news agency EFE that the dead were a couple aged 31 and 32 who had been on holiday on the island.
The Spanish government offered no further details.
The nationwide curfew is about to begin in Sri Lanka so news from the island might slow down. Please refresh the live blog as I have been adding to posts throughout the day.
Here’s what we know so far:
At least 290 people have been killed and 500 injured by a series of eight explosions targeting churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Sunday night.
24 people have been arrested, and the defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene said the culprits were religious extremists, but no group has yet claimed responsibility.
The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said security services had been “aware of information” of a possible attack up to 10 days ago planned by the radical Islamist group National Thowheeth Jama’ath, and said the government “must look into why adequate precautions were not taken”. Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman, Rajitha Senaratne, later said authorities were warned on 4 April.
Most of the dead are believed to have been Sri Lankans, but roughly 30 foreign citizen have been confirmed killed, including eight British nationals, three Indians and one Japanese citizen, and others.
The government has shut down social media and messaging services to prevent the spread of misinformation, which has hammered efforts by friends and family from outside Sri Lanka to make contact with loved ones.
The coordinated attacks began with seven initial explosions – at four hotels and three churches – with another explosion later detonated while suspects fled from police.
Defence minister Wijewardene said suicide bombers were responsible for the majority of the bombings.
