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World leaders react to deadly Sri Lanka blasts

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World leaders react to deadly Sri Lanka blasts

Colombo - Eight explosions hit the Sri Lankan capital on Easter Sunday.

Published: Sun 21 Apr 2019, 1:36 PM

Updated: Mon 22 Apr 2019, 9:00 AM

  • By
  • AFP

World leaders have condemned a series of blasts in Sri Lanka that killed more than 185 people on Sunday, including dozens of foreigners - with British, Dutch and American citizens believed to be among them.
Also read: Sri Lanka blasts live updates
Also read: UAE denounces Sri Lanka terrorist attacks
Hospital sources also said Japanese citizens were among those injured by the bombs which ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services.
Here are a few of the reactions by world leaders:
Also read: India PM Narendra Modi condemn Sri Lanka church blasts
Also read: Pakistan PM Imran Khan reacts to Sri Lanka church blasts
US President Donald Trump tweeted:

British Prime Minister Theresa May described the attacks as "truly appalling".
"Terrible reports from Sri Lanka about bloody attacks on hotels and churches on this Easter Sunday," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte tweeted after the attacks first emerged.
"Thoughts are with the victims and their relatives."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was thinking of those killed in a "horrific terrorist attack".
A month after dozens of Muslims were killed in a shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the 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.
"New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely. Collectively we must find the will and the answers to end such violence."
The Catholic Church in Jerusalem said the blasts were particularly sad as they "came while Christians celebrate Easter".
"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," the statement said.
"We also express our solidarity with Sri Lanka and all its inhabitants in their various religious and ethnic backgrounds."



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