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LAST UPDATE | 22 Apr 2019
THE SRI LANKAN government believes a local Islamist extremist group called the National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ) was behind the deadly suicide bomb attacks that killed nearly 300 people
Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne added that the government was investigating whether the group had “international support”.
“We don’t see that only a small organisation in this country can do all that,” he said.
“We are now investigating the international support for them, and their other links, how they produced the suicide bombers here, and how they produced bombs like this.”
Documents seen by AFP show Sri Lanka’s police chief issued a warning on 11 April, saying that a “foreign intelligence agency” had reported NTJ was planning attacks on churches and the Indian high commission.
Not much is known about the NTJ, a radical Muslim group that his been linked to the vandalising of Buddhist statues.
A police source told AFP that all 24 people in custody in connection with the attacks belong to an “extremist” group, but did not specify further.
The death toll in the series of eight blasts that targeted mostly churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday has risen to 290.
More than 500 people were wounded in the blasts, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera added, in the deadliest violence since the end of the country’s long-running civil war a decade ago.
Police have now arrested 24 people in connection with the blasts, Gunasekera added.
The powerful explosions struck in quick succession at three hotels in the capital Colombo. The Cinnamon Grand was hit at around 8:30 am, and the high-end Shangri-La soon after at 9:05 am.
Three churches were also targeted in that wave of blasts: Colombo’s historic St Anthony’s Shrine, the St Sebastian’s church in the town of Negombo — north of the capital — and the Zion Church in the east-coast town of Batticaloa.
Hours later, there were two more blasts — one of them at another Colombo hotel. At least two of the eight were carried out by suicide bombers, according to police sources and a hotel official.
The blasts hit the churches when they were full of worshippers gathered for Easter services.
Police have said 35 foreigners were among the dead, including British, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and American citizens, with the US and the UK later confirming their nationals were killed.
India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj added three Indians were killed.
A Portuguese man also died, according to the Iberian nation’s LUSA news agency. Two Chinese nationals were injured, the country’s embassy in Sri Lanka said, according to Beijing’s official Xinhua news agency.
Civil war
The island nation has suffered deadly militant attacks for years, especially by ethnic Tamil militants during a decades-long civil war that ended in 2009 when Sri Lankan forces crushed the insurgency.
In recent years, there have been clashes between the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community and minority Muslims, and in March last year the government imposed a 12-day state of emergency to quell anti-Muslim riots.
Christian groups have also complained of increased harassment from hardline Buddhist groups.
Memories
For many Sri Lankans, the attacks brought back painful memories of a conflict that lasted three decades and killed as many as 100,000 people.
During those years, bomb attacks were a regular occurrence, and left many Sri Lankans on edge in the streets and on public transport.
As Shantha Prasad carried children wounded from the attacks into a Colombo hospital, he said memories of the country’s deadly civil war flooded back.
“I carried about eight wounded children yesterday,” he told AFP on Monday, a day after a string of blasts hit hotels and churches, killing nearly 300 people.
“There were two girls aged six and eight, the same age as my daughters,” said Prasad, who helps carry stretchers into the hospital’s triage area and wards.
“Their clothes were torn and drenched in blood. It is unbearable to see this kind of violence again.”
International reaction
Pope Francis expressed his sadness over the attacks during his traditional Easter address at the Vatican.
“I want to express my affectionate closeness with the Christian community, attacked while it was at prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence,” he said.
The Catholic Church in Jerusalem had said in an earlier statement: “We pray for the souls of the victims and ask for speedy recovery of the injured, and ask God to inspire the terrorists to repent of their killing and intimidation.”
A month after dozens of Muslims were killed in a shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the Sri Lanka attack as “devastating”.
New Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism, and our resolve has only been strengthened by the attack on our soil on the 15th of March.
“To see an attack in Sri Lanka while people were in churches and at hotels is devastating.”
US President Donald Trump tweeted: “Heartfelt condolences from the people of the United States to the people of Sri Lanka on the horrible terrorist attacks on churches and hotels.
“We stand ready to help!”
“We strongly condemn these odious acts,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter and in Paris, the lights on the Eiffel Tower were dimmed in tribute to the victims.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement published on Twitter that “religious hate and intolerance that have showed themselves in such a terrible way today must not win”.
“The acts of violence against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka are truly appalling,” British Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted.
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At least two of the Islamic terrorists responsible for the attack have been named, why is the media pushing a Buddhist angle on this? Why’s are attacks on Christians around the world being ignored by Western media?
@Michael Wall: Will you stop that mouthing out….check the BBC, RTE and other articles here on the journal for s start. This is global news. Nothing is being ignored. Give over with your pseudo self righteousness!
@Michael Wall: examples please of how “the media” (or maybe just the media you consume) are ignoring attacks. Cite actual incidents please.
@Paul Furey: It’s a pathetic trope used by the likes of David Quinn and Iona, claiming these attacks are being ignored as some kind of anti-Christian conspiracy, when they’re plastered all over the media. Like the boy who cried wolf at this stage.
@Michael Wall: why are attacks on Muslims around the world being ignored by Western Media?
@Michael Wall: Buddhists do kill members of other religions, ask those Thousands who have fled to Bangladesh.!!
@Michael Wall: what is your view about the American war on Iraq and many other Islamic countries?
@Sequeira Jane: That’s the question. If Iraq invaded the United States, killing tens of thousands of American civilians, destroyed their infrasturcture and bombed the country back to the middle of the last century, I wonder would Christian extremists target mosques?
@Michael Wall: this is not Muslim’s vs Christian’s, this is good vs bad, and bad has been committed by all sides and you and I can’t do anything to change this, only thing you and I can do is be the change that we wish to see in this world..and the way I did that is by finding a life partner who follows Islam and me being a Catholic I respect him and he respects me…and we teach our kids only two things, that good and bad exists everywhere and that they try to spread positivity and you can do that too by not pointing fingers as when you point one finger at them three are pointing back at you…let’s spread love not hate…my partner is deeply effected by this and he is a Muslim, we will do whatever we can within our resources and means to help..
Think the media have been ignoring the persecution of Christians in general, this one was just too bad to not mention. https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/world/978361/christianity-persecution-religious-freedom-christian-muslim-persecuted-china/amp
Most people aren’t aware that Christians are the most persecuted religion in the world.
@Orla Smith: but, but – Muslim’s mainly target other Muslim’s. How’s that Orla?
@Sequeira Jane: I’ll try answer all of you. 1. There are almost daily attacks on Christians world wide, seldomly reported. 2. The article above tries to link this attack to buddhists, while Islamic terrorists have already been named 3. Regarding Iraq, I could never understand why an attack on the US perpetrated by a Saudi national living in Afghanistan resulted in an attack on Iraq, the war there was immoral and almost certainly illegal. Nor do I support the occupation of palistine. One can be anti Islamic terror without being anti Muslim. Please don’t try and equate them.
@Sequeira Jane: name me 3 christian terrorist groups?
@Paul O Mahony: 1) Lords Resistance Army (Uganda) 2) Orange Volunteers Force (Northern Ireland) 3) Army of God (United States) 4) Ku Klux Klan.
@Orla Smith:
The Ku Klux Klan were founded by the Democrats, a historical fact.
Bit of an own goal there with you being a fan of the political party, Liam.
@Candace: Says the guy with the JFK profile pic, lol!
how about the other point I made “why is the media pushing a Buddhist angle on this” when Islamist terrorists have already been identified?
@Michael Wall: for those coming along late to this, the article as originally posted had a different headline and didn’t mention islamic terrorists in the content, has since been updated, which good to see. I do wish The Journal showed edits though.
@Orla Smith:
If JFK was alive today he would be a Republican, you know, the party that abolished slavery.
@Candace: You need a lesson in US political history.
@Dave Thomas:
Lessons, ou still beating that line out, If I remember correctly, it’s you who was given some lessons recently.
Do one ye fool.
@Paul Furey: where is our Taoiseach. Has he sent a message of condolence. 100,000 Christians murdered last year and no protests.
@Orla Smith: did Sri Lanka invade Iraq? Where the terrorists in this case from Iraq?
@Michael Wall: so here’s a question for you, do you think that the vast majority of Muslims support this kind of carry on by these terrorist groups?
@Sequeira Jane: Nothing to do with anything I posted, I condemned western media, not Muslims. Couple of questions for you, do you condemn attacks against christians? Do you think it’s ok for this article to have insinuated for several hours today that buddhists were responsible for the attacks, when it was already known that Islamic terrorists were?
@Pat Mullin: “100,000 Christians murdered last year and no protests.” 100,000 people you mean?? Why does their brand of superstition have to come into it?? No wonder everone hateas everyone ltely.. bloody labels.
@Orla Smith: actively bombing and murdering people en mass today.
The world wide media is reporting on the tragedy. It is just that the world wide virtue signalling community are quieter. Christians being murdered doesn’t provide virtue signallers the material they normally thrive on for their social media pages.
@Neville Bartos: You sound very pontifical and virtuous yourself.
@Orla Smith: Religion seems to be a convenient cover for those who hate others, and to do to others what their religion dictates.!! Rather than Reaching out to people these types only know Force and Brutality ‘My way or no way’!! . And then we have our own type of Christians the ‘Turn or Burn’ Brigade, hasn’t our little country had its fare share of so called ‘Christian Religion ‘!! Where religion keeps it’s worshipers in little Boxes to come out now and again like a ‘Jack in the Box’ for Easter, Xmas, Halloween, All saints day, Paddy’s day, etc, etc it’s Clergy come out dressed in black with white collars, fancy Hats, fancy footwear jewelry hanging around their necks while they live in big houses and some live in Palaces and that’s their ‘Christianity ‘.!!
@Orla Smith: as do you always & arrogant to boot.
@ÓDuibhír Abú: feel better now? Glad you could get that out.
@Orla Smith: He also happens to be right “Orla”.
It’s been open season on Christian’s in Egypt Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon Pakistsn Sri Lanka and many other countries for the past 20 years practically nothing in the press about this, Christians like lambs to the slaughter, 5 times more people slaughtered and 500 severe casualties in Sri Lanka than New Zealand due to Islamic terrorists and the press is almost apologetic for mentioning the word Islamic and terrorist in the same sentence. Deafening silence from all the Islamic leaders and when the first mosque is attacked we have PMs weaving scarves.
@Philip Siggins: Wall to wall media coverage of all those attacks, Google ‘attacks against Christians’ and the result pages are flooded with mainstream media reports from The Guardian, New York Times, Daily Mail, Washington Post…
As for your second falsehood;
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pope-top-sunni-imam-condemn-sri-lanka-bombings/
@Philip Siggins: you’re part of the reason why people will continue hating…out of interest, apart from spreading hate what have you actively done to bring peace and helping the situation i.e helping people of different faiths to co exist in harmony? How much do you know about Islam or Hinduism? It’s easy to spread hate, uniting people is hard, you choose what you want to do…but if you’re telling me that it’s all bad on one side and all good on the other..then you’re dillusional…
@Philip Siggins: interesting how you chose to compare the reaction of people towards Muslims in both the victim and perpetrator role rather than comparing the reaction towards victims or perpetrators in both cases. Entirely disingenuous on your part.
@Sequeira Jane: Islamic extremists dont want peace? Even the IRA had something to negotiate. Most terrorist organisations do and can be negotiated with. Islamic terrorists have a different end game. No negotiations. There lies the difference. We cant even negotiate with them.
@Philip Siggins: Quite correct Philip. The persecution of Christian communities throughout the world is an ongoing tragedy that is being trivialised and joked about by bigots and facists that go under pseudonyms like “Orla Smith” or some such like.
But compassion for such a beleaguered people isn’t likely to get much traction in the Ireland of today.
@Garry Coll: Where did I joke about it, my comment only referred to media coverage and condemnation by Muslim leaders.
@Philip Siggins: In Pakistan, Christians are the poorest section of that society, they are a minority, they are oppressed and attacks have increased, you would think, with the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Myanmar, the raping and murdering of women and children, the burning of villages, would make Pakistanis more sympathetic towards minorities considering Muslims are a minority in Myanmar, but no.
@Sequeira Jane: what have I said that is not a fact, obviously touched a nerve here. You obviously love to exaggerate big time, any statement that doesn’t conform to your opinion is wrong, I note little sympathy for the slaughter in your post. Says everything about you really.
@Orla Smith: your on every post here as an Islamic Apologist for their continued slaughter and hatred of everything Western, yet you wouldn’t survive 5 minutes in an Islamic country yourself. For a start there’s no Journal in any Islamic country, people live in abject fear unable to express even the slightest dissenting views of their beloved Allah that’s how they are controlled.
@Philip Siggins: Allah is Arabic for God, the same monotheistic Abrahamic God Christians and Jews worship, please continue with your ignorant drivel.
The religion of peace
@Rusty Dornish: which religion are you reffering to?
Devastating to see innocent people going about their lives targeted by such hate.
@sVRCsaSg: As a species we really don’t seem to like one and other, different skin colour, different religious beliefs, different sexuality, different morals(left wing right wing) sure even on a Saturday afternoon certain “people” will beat the living daylights out of other people because of a difference in football clubs. I’m starting to wonder if maybe it has nothing to do with any of the above reasons, and maybe it’s just our species is hardwired to hate and kill each other, just like different colonies of ants do for territory and food sources, humanity has come on in leaps and bounds in technology over the last 200 years but instances like this were humans murder each other over having different beliefs takes us right back to the days of being nothing but savage cave dwellers.
@Devilsavocado: sad but 100% true
@Devilsavocado:
Brilliant analysis. It would be hard to find a truer story told.
@Devilsavocado: The myth of our ancestors being savage cave dwellers has long been disproved. If we didn’t like each other as a species and were hardwired to hate and kill each other for multitudinous reasons I’m pretty sure we would’ve died out a long time ago or at the very least have all become savage cave dwellers by now.
@Devilsavocado: I think it’s a mix of in-groups and out-groups. We’re wired to cooperate within our groups, which we define by a number of things (which you mention above). But out-groups are seen as dangerous, rightly or wrongly so.
@sVRCsaSg: yes, I believe it’s a simple competition based mechanism, we cooperate with and help those we associate with and see other groups as threatening.
We are intelligent enough to overcome it much of the time, but increased stress and scarcity of resources bring it out stronger.
That’s how recruiters can target deprived people to become activists and suicide bombers. It’s how they’ve always managed to send peasants charging into the enemy lines for god and country.
And its the same reason that migration can only work smoothly if its managed in an orderly fashion.
@Sega Yolo: very true.
@Sega Yolo: It’s always tempting to look for simple answers to human behaviour. It’s comforting when we think we’ve found them but the factors influencing motivation are many and varied and don’t fit into a simple narrative of us somehow being hardwired or pre-programmed to behave in certain ways towards our fellow human beings. The evidence for a link between terrorism and poverty is weak at best.
https://jia.sipa.columbia.edu/online-articles/reexamining-terrorism-poverty-nexus
There is very little coverage of this on the western media.
A church gets burnt down and the western world is up in arms and donations flow in..
These people are butchered and hardly anybody knows about it.
RIP to those killed and my thoughts go to those left behind.
@tommytukamomo: there was an article yesterday that was constantly updated throughout the day and this new one today. Its the top story on the New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, RTE, etc. I’m definitely not seeing a lack of coverage.
@tommytukamomo: More pseudo self righteousness. I dont get you whingers, another agenda perhaps?. As said above….its all over the news.
@Paul Furey: do yourself a favour and go back to bed to give your spleen a rest you sanctimonious gombeen.
I’m sure people will still be posting things to offend you later as well.
@tommytukamomo: You got caught out badly there (again).
@Dave O’Keeffe: It’s also about how it covered, the article above is pointing at buddhists, when an Islamic terror group have already been named.
“In recent years, there have been clashes between the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community and minority Muslims, and in March last year the government imposed a 12-day state of emergency to quell anti-Muslim riots.
Christian groups have also complained of increased harassment from hardline Buddhist groups.”
Also talking about coverage in general, christians are the most persecuted religion in the world, you wouldn’t think it from our media.
@tommytukamomo: You’re a bit mad….aren’t you!
@Michael Wall: you’re totally right, and while Muslims are fewer in number they are almost as persecuted but you definitely wouldn’t think that from media coverage. Care to show which faith is killed for their faith more? It’d be interesting for you to flesh out your comment and show us which faith is put to death more for their beliefs as opposed to being discriminated against.
@Orla Smith: and apart from being another irritant you are whom exactly…
Never mind, I really don’t want to know.
@Dave O’Keeffe: is this in the news https://archive.org/details/Screenshot20190422220402YouTube
Or this https://archive.org/details/20190422223604
Islamic extremists have a problem with every other faith or creed and those with none. One only has to look across the world to see it. From Europe and North America through Africa, Central, South and East Asia and Australia and New Zealand. All have seen acts of Islamic terrorism. Although most Muslims live normal peaceful lives, the ideology seems to be a breeding ground for people with extremist views.
Religion of mercy and compassion.
@Josh Hanners: We are glad you think so, if only others were as enlightened as you are, this world would be a better place…
I blame God ….
@Nigel Garvey: Religious Fanatics are to blame, not god I would say.!!
have your say