this is c w news line from berlin sri lankan a special say seven suspects have been arrested after a wave of easter sunday bombings killed at least one hundred ninety people seven blasts targeted churches building this job worshippers and luxury hotels hundreds of people work for explosion came as police attempted to search the house the defense minister blames religious extremists look at the latest on the string length in capital along.

the gulf welcome to the show sri lanka's defense minister says police have arrested seven suspects believed to be linked to the wave of bombings that killed at least one hundred ninety people the first seven blasts targeted churches and luxury hotels in and near the capital colombo a church in the eastern town of but to allow was also one of the suspects was arrested on the outskirts of colombo at the same of an explosion that killed three police as they attempted to search a house most of the casualties came from the church bombings or abortion first were celebrating easter the prime minister of sri lanka run the worker missing gas been speaking about the attacks today and have a listen. because senate you pretty much i would like to express my condolences with the families of victims and those injured in the attacks that took place in the country today. because. i see this is

a major crisis that will lead the country and its economy towards instability. i strongly condemn these attacks that targeted religious sites in luxury hotels not . all of us must not hold the lure of the land. let's cross over a mountain jamila nanjing medina editor of news and asia and journalist and colombo sri lanka at least two more blasts followed the earlier bombings today what's the situation in and around colombo now yes hello the basically the latest information is that the security for the seven people in connection with the eight it's still there today and security are been beefed up across. the city in the work here on the island like the hard for her not to.

do we have any information yet on the suspects arrested. we do not have any information at the rich and i think. that the young people because the police are not. one but we do know that one they. sat in the house in that look over there that was it wasn't clear and the police have said that the. officials have imposed a social media ban and so lango following the bombings what's the aim of. but basically amanda assess the explosions took place today morning that was another of misinformation we just saw this coming out on social media especially panic and fear amongst the probably it was all take knifing racism so just a soft side of a prison my pharmacist said that it is the state's money urging people not julie's false information to the detention in the country so the aim of this is basic other

schools present to summations the travelling out there is of course an ongoing operation you talked about panic in the streets what's the situation now where basically the streets are disgusted at the moment think there's a curfew ing she says for the northeast and stores the whole wish to travel to the apples to have life except that the show gets accustomed to course as always too is the checkpoints so you do not see anybody on the road at the moment except for the side forces. you talk about the curfew what other measures are officials implementing at the moment. so there may have to tell me just police have being dispatched outside all places of worship across the island and also outside albeit . in colombo and the rest of the country and there's a such and rescue operation going on by i.d.f.

holiday season all these motions sites that is the only information which the f.b.i. being at the moment the longest christian community was in particularly hard by these bombings during his easter mass in the vatican pope francis condemned the violence let's listen in. but it's still going to be said. in the piece is a good as i had with sadness the news of the horrendous attack which on easter sunday . and pain to some churches and other places in sri lanka. the seed of money. i would like to express my heart felt closeness to the christian community and. which was attacked while gathered in prayer. and to all victims of such a cruel act of violence. when i entrust to the lord. who so tragically died and i pray for the wounded and all those who are suffering because

of this dramatic event we've been to. let's get back to jamil announcement in covering the story on the ground. we've heard about explosions at churches and hotels in residential areas that this attack have a clear target. very easily when the attack it happened on sunday morning it took place in steve very popular churches across the island that is one talks and then police searching in capital colombo. best chance church in the. the capital and this leon first invested in the eastern province but initially what everybody assumed was that it was a catholic community with the father. but they're living a far better not been dead also marty but a second class appears in colombo over there for you know we're also.

exactly what we've been hanging. this is something that we already know the worst violence the end of the civil war ten years ago what can you tell us about the threats facing the country at the moment. so basically then there was that in two thousand and nine. the bees were getting back to a moment if this is the sense you are seeing the end of the war in fact in maybe he said it's written ten years since the war ended you know getting back on track. that was was always was was also in many minds to a great extent. i think these attacks to date. except for the maximum anything like me to stand like that these are the coming. only seven percent of sri lanka from elation christian they were of course at the center of these attacks even if they weren't the only targets have there been other

attacks against this religious minority in the past briefly if you can yes there has to be not attacks against the minorities for example on sunday last week there was an attack at the methodist church run the for the center bombing. and then just a few months ago that also attacks against the minorities the most in seven months . so why didn't. they have gotten these minorities so this comes as a smoker surprise. to me and i was wondering thank you very much fink you a short while ago i spoke to a song when you're going to care ahead of the institute of national security studies in colombo sri lanka he was in one of the hotels and sri lanka's capital were targeted and today's attacks you told us about what you witnessed. an

eternity five. a day job last night off and i was well my way down to the cafe has happened but. the table won the day for they have all the people having breakfast and more so than much. and so there was a lot of foreigners and. so many victims from that then. more so than men actually military but access to military defense headquarters was right next to the shangri-la. meeting today there was one of assistance coming from the media who was running while you're walking out of the building they wouldn't run into a fist. so many casualties so. there were some out and there was. bombs from like everywhere like seven seven other bombs from on different different places in sri lanka and some pretty sounding martial even for.

the. national guard and i like. the effect on the violent extremist groups. there are so many. groups who are. insured and there could be a. significant coming each time and this sort of i mean if you take the targeted attacks and the finance minister she's one of the most publishers most of the christians who come even from the villages they come into. many victims from that church at that and many of the churches. that was a song. kara head of the institute of national security studies and colombo sri lanka spoke to us earlier by phone let me quickly bring you up to speed on the story we've been following for you this hour officials now say at least two hundred

seven people have been killed and hundreds injured in explosions at churches and hotels in sri lanka the first seven explosions hit colombo as well as the town of know. in the east of the country a major church and colombo was among the buildings other targets were five star hotels the defense minister says seven suspects have been arrested. for more analysis let's bring in. a car in our studio in delhi sonia people around the world are following events and what's been the reaction so far in india and other countries in the region. so well there's really been a flood of statements here across the continent across the indian subcontinent pretty condemning these attacks now here in india of course which is unable to cause and. prime minister has you know issued a press release he's also tweeted saying there is no police in the region he says

he strongly condemns the blasts he said india stands and sort of data to which india is fought in minnesota says you know she's been in touch with the indian high commission in colombo she says she's monitoring the situation very closely home ministry is also tweeted helplines for indian nationals who are trapped in sri lanka this incident recalls other attacks we've seen in recent years in the region in two thousand and six seventy five people were killed an easter sunday bombing targeting christians in lahore pakistan what parallels are there between these incidents. well i have to say that so far really no group has really claimed responsibility for these attacks in sri lanka and so i think we know very little of this point about who was really behind that what the motive was in terms of paddles i mean you know the the indian subcontinent is really no stranger to terror attacks close

a home in india if you remember back in mumbai in two thousand and eight we had a terrorist attack but in you know across multiple sites in the financial capital but despite its battle to go i think we can say that you know all these attacks have been very unexpected in that they have taken the parties the surprise they have seem to be very well coordinated and well planned that was the case in mumbai to these attacks have also came very very high bets stall in mumbai if you remember in two thousand and eight hundred seventy four people died so yeah there are certainly. in that sense but i think if you look at sri lanka in the context there we have to remember that there has been really a major you know a london major violence really since the end of the civil war in truth in two thousand and nine now there has been some sporadic violence between members off the majority does somalis community and the muslim minority in sri lanka so much so that last year last march did you know impose an emergency because of clashes between between the popular with the sinhalese and the muslim minority but i think

it's a really safe to say that since the end of the civil war since the defeat of the time of tigers in two thousand and nine we really haven't seen an incident of the sky and interim coach. thank you for your analysis. now let's take another look at the story we've been following for you at this hour officials say at least two hundred and seven people have been killed and hundreds injured in explosions at churches and hotels and sri lanka the first seven explosions hit columbo as well as a town of no gomo and bus of koloa in the east of the country a major church in colombo was among the buildings hit other targets were five star hotels the defense minister says seven suspects have been arrested. and forget you can always get the w. news on the go just download our app from google play or from the app store that will give you access to all the latest news from around the world as well as push notifications for any breaking news can also use the d. w. out to send us your photos and videos. for watching t w news

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